Prospect Deep Dive: Jett Williams
Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 60 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55
Unless your name is Phil Rizzuto, not many 5’6” baseball players have succeeded in New York — or baseball history.
Jett Williams, 21, has all the tools to be a star for the Mets — with a heightened advantage of his own.
Jett Williams attended Rockland-Heath High School in Heath, Texas. The Dallas born barnburner was the top-ranked shortstop in Texas, and the top overall player in the state for 2022.
During his junior year, Williams batted .347 with five home runs and 38 RBI. During his senior season a year later, he hit .411 with seven home runs, ten doubles, and 41 RBI.
Williams was named District 10-6A Offensive MVP and ended as a top prospect for the upcoming 2022 draft. He originally was committed to play baseball at Texas A&M University, but committed to Mississippi State University, instead.
He received offers from Arkansas, Tennessee, and Oregon State, as well.
Williams entered the draft as the 21st-ranked player and the 11th-ranked high school prospect. The Mets had two top 15 picks in 2022 — No. 11, where the Mets took C Kevin Parada as the compensatory pick for failing to sign Kumar Rocker in 2021.
The Mets selected Williams three picks later at No. 14, with a slot value of $4,241,600. At 5’6”, Williams became the shortest player to be drafted in the first round since the Draft’s inaugural year in 1965.
After a signing bonus of $3.9 million, Williams signed out of high school under slot, passing up Mississippi State to go professional.
In 2022, Williams first played for the Mets’ rookie league team. Over ten games, he slashed .250/.366/.438 with a .803 OPS; he also had one double, one triple, one home run, six RBI, six stolen bases, and four walks.
In 2023, Williams started the season as the 98th-ranked prospect by Baseball America. He’s played at three different levels, ascending up and through Single-A St. Lucie, High-A Brooklyn, to Double-A Binghamton.
In 121 games, Williams slashed .263/.425/.451 with a .876 OPS. His ability to get on-base is a great skillset which he brings, not often seen at his age; but especially at his size. Williams added 22 doubles, eight triples, 13 home runs, 55 RBI, 81 runs scored, 104 walks, and 45 stolen bases.
The advantages smaller strike zones present are extremely skewed — in favor of hitters, not pitchers.
Williams began his 2024 campaign with Double-A Binghamton. He began feeling discomfort in his right wrist around April, with his play supporting a physical deterrent. He started 7-for-39 (.180) and elected for a wrist TFCC debridement procedure on June 6, to remove damaged tissue.
After retuning for 10 games in August, Williams was 8-for-44 (.182) with one walk and 20 strikeouts. On September 17th, Williams made his Triple-A debut with an RBI, walk, and two strikeouts.
“I always kind of dealt with it my whole entire life. But for the most part it’s kind of made me what I am today,” Williams said on his first day in his first big-league training camp. “I think I play like what people say. I play with a little bit of chip on my shoulder.”
Over 33 games over three levels in 2024, Williams slashed .215/.358/.298. He was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse at the end of the Double-A season.
He continued and played in the Arizona Fall League, but sprained his right ankle in the regular-season finale, running into the outfield wall.
To say the least, luck has not been on Williams’ side. You can expect him to bounce back this upcoming season to vie at a chance to make the 40-man roster.
Williams’ gift is his speed. He profiles as a center fielder or second baseman, and can play shortstop swimmingly, as well. He’s a type of player who can steal 50 bases multiple times over the course of his career.
With Francisco Lindor presumably being the locked in candidate until 2031, it may be difficult for Jett Williams to find playing time any other way. Keep in mind, Lindor will likely be moved to second base at some point, anyway.
A real path to ascension and stardom quickly is at 2nd base — where he’s currently competing against Luisangel Acuña. Another is in center field, if Jose Siri or Tyrone Taylor struggle. Given that Drew Gilbert is a L/L, he could get priority in center field.
No prospect option at second base behind Jeff McNeil is a bad one — a great problem to have.
The Mets signed Nick Madrigal on a split contract for infield depth, furthering the infield question of the Mets — with Jose Iglesias remaining a free agent.
The Mets reengaged with Pete Alonso no more than 48 hours after Amazin’ Day, just less than a week ago. Tough to tell what ends up happening; but it does feel more and more likely that Pete Alonso and the Mets are moving closer towards a reunion.
The Mets have explored trades for Ryan Mountcastle and Spencer Torkelson, as well as offering Mark Canha, as fall back 1B options.
The Mets have also checked in with San Diego regarding a trade for SP Dylan Cease.
Jett Williams, Scouting Report:
“The injury and limited sample make it easy to set aside Williams’ age-20 season, but much of his scouting report remains the same. Standing 5-foot-6, the former Mississippi State commit doesn’t give pitchers a huge zone, and he doesn’t much expand it either, leading to solid walk rates and OBPs. He can work long at-bats, though sometimes those result in strikeouts too. The right-handed batter utilizes a leg kick in his load, and he tends to elevate the ball on contact, enabling him to get to average power despite his frame.”
“True to his first name, Williams can burn quickly out of the box, and he proved to be more aggressive and efficient in steals in the Fall League once he was further away from the wrist issue. Drafted as a shortstop, he split his time between there and center field in the AFL and also saw some time at second base in the late summer. He’ll keep moving around so long as he’s behind Francisco Lindor in the same organization, and his quickness should help keep him up the middle no matter what.”