Washington Nationals: Austen Williams rebirth earns September call
After four seasons in the Washington Nationals system, Austen Williams has emerged as one of the elite arms after a role change.
Austen Williams wasn’t supposed to be a Washington Nationals savior when he was drafted in the 6th round in 2014. He was the Nationals fifth pitcher chosen that year in the draft. Yet here we are when Williams getting the call to the major leagues could represent one of the most impressive arms to matriculate to the big league club in some time.
When drafted from Texas State, Williams had a low-90s fastball with good run, a sharp, late-breaking slider, and a change that can mimic his slider’s actions. The Nationals pushed that three-pitch action into the rotation, but after his first full season, which was a brilliant year between the two A-ball levels, tossing a combined 139 2/3 innings with a 2.58 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and a 33/106 BB/K ratio, earning the note of many scouts.
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Williams would struggle the next two seasons as a starter, however, posting ERAs over 5 both seasons as he attempted to pitch as a starter in the upper minors.
The Washington Nationals made the move that many saw coming when he was first drafted this year and put him into the bullpen. He saw his fastball tick up to mid-90s on the top end with an added tick of life, playing to a plus fastball. His slider worked as a definite plus, if not a plus-plus pitch, diving down at the toes of right-handed hitters.
He was utilized akin to the way the Cleveland Indians deployed Andrew Miller in 2016, working him over multiple innings most times out. On the season between AA and AAA, he made 32 appearances, tossing 58 innings, with a 1.19 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and a 17/89 BB/K ratio.
NL MVP race as September begins. dark. Next
The Washington Nationals have been struggling to find relief help for many years, and after multiple trades finally put together a bullpen with some closers at the end of it this year, but their middle relief was still problematic. A pitcher like Williams should get his feet wet in September and could be a very valuable piece in 2019 and beyond!