In this edition of ESNY’s New York Yankees Prospect Profile, we take a look at outfielder Mason Williams.
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2010 MLB draft, outfielder Mason Williams forgave his scholarship to the University of South Carolina to sign with the New York Yankees with a $1.45 million signing bonus.
Being the son of former NFL wide receiver Derwin Williams, Mason definitely has athletic genes in his blood as he excelled in baseball from little league and high school career which led the Yankees to draft him once he graduated.
Williams is a dependable defender in center field with an arm that could be considered above average. He hits mostly for contact and has some wheels on him but is not that great of a base stealer yet as he only stole two bases in Triple-A last season.
Take a look at what scouts have to say about his skills:
Scouting grades via MLB Pipeline: Hit: 50 / Power: 35 / Run: 60 / Arm: 50 / Field: 60 / Overall: 45
The left-handed hitter has definitely earned an opportunity in the big leagues after spending six seasons in the minor leagues and producing at a great level.
Prior to the 2013 season, Williams was rated as the 32-best prospect in baseball by Baseball America after batting .298 with 11 home runs in 91 games.
In 2015, he spent time between Trenton, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and in the Bronx. In 54 games between Double-A and Triple-A, Williams would sport a batting average of .318 with 13 stolen bases which earned himself a call-up to the Bronx Bombers.
The outfielder made an impact on the Yankees right off the bat when being called up on 2015 by hitting a home run in his first big league game and making multiple great catches in center field.
His slash line in the Bronx was .286/.318/.571 until he went on the 60-day disabled list with a shoulder injury caused by diving back to first base.
Williams would not return to action until July 2 of this season leaving him out of action for a full year.
Upon his return, he was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre where he currently owns a .715 OPS which is exceptional for somebody who is presently returning from a crippling back injury.
“It took a lot of trust, I had to trust the process,” told the Providence Journal about his recovery. “I was with the Yankees’ therapists and the trainers the whole way, which was amazing. I’m real fortunate for that as well.”
With September call-ups approaching rapidly Williams could possibly be a candidate to join the boys in the Bronx and show the Yankees the same thing that he was showing them in eight few games in 2015.
