Greg Williams

GREG WILLIAMS, LEFT HANDED PITCHER
Born: December 30, 1989
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 205
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Drafted: 12th Round, 384th Overall, 2011 (Rangers)
How Acquired: Minor league free agent
College: Marshall University
Agent: MSM Sports Agency

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Williams is a tall lefty with good velocity but an extensive injury history.  He had a rotator cuff injury in college that cost him the 2010 season.  When Texas drafted him in 2011, he reportedly had been showing good velocity and control issues.  Since being drafted, he’s reportedly thrown in the mid-90s; he also throws a change.  Williams pitched reasonably well after signing, but had Tommy John surgery that cost him the 2013 season.  He was able to pitch only briefly in 2014, then had a second TJ surgery, costing him all of 2015.  After a brief comeback in 2016, he got hurt again.  The Pirates signed him to a minor league contract for 2017.

2011
R:  4-1-1, 3.42 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 23.2 IP, 2.3 BB/9, 7.6 K/9
A-:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 1.1 IP, 20.2 BB/9, 6.8 K/9

Williams pitched well in rookie ball, with no control problems.

2012
R:  0-0-0, 5.14 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 7.7 BB/9, 11.6 K/9
A:  2-0-4, 3.49 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 28.1 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 7.9 K/9
A+:  0-0-0, 9.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 1.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 0.0 K/9

The Rangers sent Williams to low A to pitch in relief and he did reasonably well.  He went out injured in early June, though, and missed a month.  He ended up having Tommy John surgery after the season.

2013
INJURED

Williams missed the season following the elbow surgery.

2014
R:  0-0-0, 12.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 9.0 BB/9, 15.0 K/9
A-:  0-0-0, 9.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 1.0 IP, 9.0 BB/9, 27.0 K/9

Williams didn’t get back into action until mid-June, when he pitched one game in the Northwest League.  He then missed three weeks, followed by three games in rookie ball.  His abbreviated season was followed by another Tommy John surgery.

2015
INJURED

Williams missed another season due to surgery.

2016
A+:  0-0-0, 4.22 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 10.2 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 5.9 K/9

The Rangers released Williams in spring training and he signed in April with the Reds.  He got into nine games in the Florida State League in May and pitched respectably, especially considering how little pitching he’d done as a pro.  He went on the disabled list, though, and the Reds released him.

According to his agency, by October 2016 Williams was healthy and throwing 95-96 mph.  Presumably, that’s why the Pirates signed him.  Despite being drafted way back in 2011, Williams has thrown only 76 innings, so there’s little track record to go on.  If he’s healthy, the Pirates will probably assign him to one of the class A teams at some point, but he wasn’t on any roster to start the season.

CONTRACT INFORMATION
2017: Minor league contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: $125,000
MiLB Debut: 2011
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: 2017
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
June 6, 2008: Drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 31st round, 923rd overall pick.
June 7, 2011:
Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 12th round, 384th overall pick; signed on June 12.
March 11, 2016: Released by the Texas Rangers.
April 6, 2016: Signed by the Cincinnati Reds as a minor league free agent.
June 25, 2016: Released by the Cincinnati Reds.
December 16, 2016: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a minor league free agent.