'Veteran' Williams gets shot with S.F. in spring training
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
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The first day Giants pitchers and catchers report to their Scottsdale, Ariz., training facility is Friday. The first workout is Saturday.
"I feel like an old guy, a 21-year-old vet," said Williams in a telephone interview from Fresno, Calif., where he trained the past couple of weeks. "It's my fifth year and I already know what's going on with the league. I've been through every level and I know what it takes to pass each level. It feels weird. But on the other hand, I'm going to be a rookie again."
That is if he makes the big club after spring training. Because he is in his fifth professional season, the Waipahu High graduate and the 39th overall selection in the June 1999 draft, had to be protected on the Giants' 40-man roster, or risked getting picked up by another organization in the Rule 5 draft.
The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder has ascended through the Giants chain like clockwork. After signing for an $832,500 bonus, Williams pitched in the short-season Class-A Northwest League. In 2000, he pitched in the high-A California League. In 2001, he was in the Double-A Texas League and played in the All-Star Futures game for top prospects. Last year, he was the youngest player in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Then he was invited to the Arizona Fall League for prospects nearly ready for the big leagues. He was 0-0 in five starts with a 2.05 earned run average with 25 strikeouts and seven walks in 22 innings for the Grand Canyon Rafters.
Williams said he is battling three others for the fifth-spot in the Giants starting rotation. Right-handers Ryan Jensen and Kurt Ainsworth have big-league experience already, while Jesse Foppert has emerged as one of the organization's best prospects. Williams was named the Giants' top prospect by Baseball America the past two years. The publication has not published this season's National League West teams' prospects yet.
"I feel pretty confident going into spring training to prove myself," Williams said. "Yeah, I feel a little pressure. It's my first time going to big league spring training. I'm a young guy still yet, so there's going to be a lot of pressure on me because I expect myself to excel."
Actually, he spent one day in big league camp last spring. He pitched an inning in an exhibition against the Oakland Athletics.
"It was a good experience for me just to see major league talent," he said. "That was the closest I've ever been to being with the big club."
Williams said he has been training at Fresno State University with new Giants bullpen coach Mark Gardner, a former big league pitcher. The Giants' Triple-A affiliate is in Fresno.
Last month, Williams was one of about 100 prospects invited to a seminar for players in Washington, D.C. Topics ranged from conducting themselves to the public and media to managing their finances. Williams said Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith was one of the guest speakers.
This is part of a series of articles on pro baseball players with ties to Hawai'i.
