April 12, 2017
Christian Williams excels at both phases of the game. (Tyler Marcotte)
First baseman Christian Williams excels at both phases of the game.
Known primarily for his defensive play; Williams has made a living on being a reliable fielder within the organization.
Recording a .990 fielding percentage in 491 innings last season in Vancouver was an impressive stat for Blue Jays fans to see as they’re always looking for solid defenders to climb the ranks.
As expected with his great numbers, Williams takes tremendous pride in his ability to be reliable in the field.
“Defense has become a big part of my game,” stated Williams. “I take a lot of pride in my defense. It has come so far, but there’s always work that can still be done to get better.”
Progressing nicely at the plate as well, Williams improved his slash line to .236/.341/.340 last season in Vancouver compared to .220/.285/.318 in Bluefield in 2015.
The increased production has carried over to the beginning of his season in Lansing where Williams has notched seven hits in 20 Midwest League at-bats.
A major component to his improving numbers in the batter’s box is his continual focus on improving his plate approach.
“My approach has come a long ways since turning pro,” said Williams. “With that being said, it’s nowhere near where it needs to be yet. There’s still a lot of adjustments that need to be made. But I’m happy so far with the progress.”
Another area that has helped Williams find continued success in pro ball has been his ability to adjust to the increased conditioning required at the next level.
“The biggest adjustment since turning pro has been figuring out what I need to do day-to-day to make sure my body is ready to go every night,” explained Williams. “Going from playing three or four days a week to playing every day takes a toll on your body.”
All of this will be put to the test in Lansing, as Williams is competing in his first full season.
But with the positive attitude Christian Williams brings to the ballpark every night, he shouldn’t experience any issues in 2017.