Williams makes Giants debut tomorrow
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Pitcher Jerome Williams of Waipahu is scheduled to make his major league debut tomorrow when the San Francisco Giants visit the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Giants recalled Williams from Triple-A Fresno (Calif.) yesterday to fill a spot in the rotation temporarily vacated by Jason Schmidt, who left the team to attend his mother's funeral. Williams said he was not told whether the promotion was for one start or permanent.
Tomorrow's game is scheduled to air at 1:05 p.m. on KKEA (1420 AM), which broadcasts Giants games in Hawai'i.
The Giants are closing out a three-game series at Pittsburgh today. Williams said he will meet the team in Philadelphia, where the Giants will play a three-game weekend series at Veterans Stadium.
The highly touted 6-foot-3, 180-pound right-hander from Waipahu High School was elated when he got a call from Bobby Evans, the Giants director of minor league operations.
"I was shocked," Williams said. "It felt weird. When Bobby Evans called, I said, 'Huh? You're joking?'"
But it was no joke. Yesterday's edition of the San Francisco Chronicle speculated the move because Williams would be available for Schmidt's slot in the rotation. Williams last pitched on Sunday, going five innings.
Williams was 1-1 with a 1.29 earned run average in four starts with the Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League. He had 15 strikeouts to eight walks in 21 innings.
"I've been waiting for this for a long time," Williams said. "Now that it's here, all I gotta do is prove myself."
Actually, Evans called Williams' father, Glenn, first. But he did not tell Glenn that his son was about to be promoted. Evans wanted Jerome to give his father the long-anticipated news.
"He asked, 'What do I say to Jerome?" Glenn Williams said. "I tell him to stay focused because you're probably the next one in line (to get promoted). When they call you, you have to be ready.'
"Twenty minutes later, Jerome calls to tell me he will pitch for the Giants."
The elder Williams said he will not be able to make the trip to Philadelphia to see his son's debut.
Williams, a 1999 Advertiser State Player of the Year, was the 39th overall selection in the 1999 draft. He has steadily climbed through the Giants minor league system and was twice rated the Giants' top prospect by Baseball America.
He is the fifth player with ties to Hawai'i on a big league roster. Mike Fetters (Iolani) is a setup relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins, while Maui's Shane Victorino (St. Anthony) and Big Island-born Brandon Villafuerte are with the San Diego Padres. Villafuerte is a relief pitcher and Victorino is a reserve outfielder.
Yesterday, third baseman Chris Truby, a Damien alum, was called up by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
