Nick Williams (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nick Williams |
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Williams in September 2018
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| Caliente de Durango – No. 1 | |||
| Outfielder | |||
| Born: September 8, 1993 Galveston, Texas, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: June 30, 2017, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| KBO: June 27, 2023, for the Hanwha Eagles | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2021 season) |
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| Batting average | .251 | ||
| Home runs | 31 | ||
| Runs batted in | 110 | ||
| KBO statistics (through 2023 season) |
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| Batting average | .244 | ||
| Home runs | 9 | ||
| Runs batted in | 45 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Billy Nicholas Williams, born on September 8, 1993, is a professional baseball player from the United States. He plays as an outfielder for the Caliente de Durango team in the Mexican League. Nick was first chosen by the Texas Rangers in the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. He has also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for teams like the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox. He also played in the KBO League for the Hanwha Eagles.
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Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Williams grew up in Galveston, Texas. He attended Ball High School in Galveston and graduated in 2012.
Starting with the Texas Rangers
After high school, the Texas Rangers picked Williams in the second round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. He had planned to go to Texas A&M University, but he decided to sign with the Rangers instead. He received a $500,000 bonus for signing.
Williams started his professional career in 2012 with the Arizona League Rangers. He played 48 games and hit well. In 2013, he played for the Hickory Crawdads. He hit 17 home runs in 95 games that season.
Before the 2014 season, Baseball America magazine called Williams one of the Rangers' top young players. He played for three different minor league teams in 2014. After that season, he played in the Arizona Fall League.
Playing for the Philadelphia Phillies
On July 31, 2015, Williams was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. He was part of a big trade that involved several players.
In 2016, Williams played for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, a Triple-A team. He hit 13 home runs and had 64 RBIs. His manager sometimes benched him for not playing with enough effort. Williams said he understood the manager's decision. The Phillies added him to their main roster after the 2016 season.
In 2017, he continued to play well for Lehigh Valley, hitting 15 home runs.
Making it to Major Leagues
The Phillies called Williams up to the major leagues on June 30, 2017. He played his first MLB game that night. On July 9, Williams hit his first MLB home run. A week later, he hit his first career grand slam.
In 2017, Williams batted .288 for the Phillies. He hit 12 home runs and had 55 RBIs. However, his defense in the outfield needed improvement.
In 2018, he hit 16 home runs and had 58 RBIs. His defense was still a challenge, with a low Defensive Runs Saved rating.
In 2019, Williams struggled at the plate. His batting average was low, and he struck out often. On August 11, 2020, the Phillies removed him from their roster.
Moving to Other Teams
On August 15, 2020, the Cincinnati Reds claimed Williams. However, he did not play in any games for them. He became a free agent later that year.
On January 15, 2021, Williams signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. He was called up to the major leagues on April 8 to fill in for an injured player. He played his first MLB game since 2019 that night. After a short time, he was sent back to the minor leagues. He was released by the White Sox on August 3.
Playing in Mexico and Korea
On April 11, 2022, Williams signed with the Toros de Tijuana in the Mexican League. He had a great season, hitting 29 home runs and batting .370.
In 2023, he continued to play for the Toros, hitting 9 home runs. On June 18, 2023, Williams signed with the Hanwha Eagles in the KBO League in South Korea. He played 68 games for the Eagles, hitting 9 home runs. After the season, he became a free agent.
On January 16, 2024, Williams returned to the Toros de Tijuana for a second time. He played 38 games for them.
Current Team: Caliente de Durango
On February 14, 2025, Williams was traded to the Caliente de Durango team. He currently plays for them in the Mexican League.
Personal Life
Nick Williams is married to Brianna Goodfriend. They started dating when he was playing for the Frisco RoughRiders. Nick's father is African American, and his mother is Mexican American. His brother, Jonah, plays both football and baseball at the University of Texas.
