Phillies: Nick Williams Promoted from AAA
With Howie Kendrick being sent to the DL, the Philadelphia Phillies have promoted outfield prospect, Nick Williams.
Nick Williams has spent this season at the AAA level with the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. He is currently batting to the tune of a .280 batting average, a .328 on-base percentage, and a .511 slugging percentage.
Acquired in the Cole Hamels trade, Williams will need to make a big impact in the majors if the Phillies are going to end up on the winning side of that move.
Despite the promotion, it appears that Williams may not be in the majors for too long.
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Jerad Eickhoff will need to be activated from the disabled list by Tuesday, sending someone (possibly Williams) back down. Even if the team decides to do something different and keep him around longer, Howie Kendrick could be back before the All-Star break.
However long the Nick Williams experiment lasts, it should be interesting, to say the least.
Williams, 23, is one of the highest ranked prospects in the Phillies farm system, and many expect him to be a key starter for the Phillies in the future.
Standing at 6’3″ weighing 195lbs, Williams is very athletic. Williams is known for his batting ability, possessing excellent bat speed and home run potential.
While he has experience at every outfield position, scouts consider him to be much better at batting than fielding. Fortunately, he plays left field, the same position he will be filling in for Howie Kendrick.
MLB scouts consider his biggest issue to be controlling the strike zone. However, having been walked six times in the last 5 games, the Phillies must have felt confident enough in him to call his number.
Putting Williams next to Aaron Altherr and Odubel Herrera in the outfield will let the fans see the some of their youngest and most talented players in the same lineup.
Next: Howie Kendrick likely heading to the DL
Phillies fans will get a small taste of the future this weekend, and no matter how he performs, the mere presence of a talented prospect in the majors should be embraced.
Nick Williams, welcome to the show.