Gavin
Williams

04.26.17
For the second consecutive week, RHP Gavin Williams (Cape Fear HS, NC) dominated an opposing lineup and went seven innings without allowing a hit. Wednesday night against Jack Britt HS, NC, the East Carolina recruit allowed three walks and struck out 11. Tall and projectable at 6-foot-6, 200 pounds, Williams was 92-95 mph in the first inning and 90-92 in the second before settling into the 88-92 range. In the seventh inning with two outs, he was 90-92, touching 93, against the final batter. His curveball showed 11/5 shape with depth at 75 in the first inning, but was inconsistent the rest of the way and remains in development. He also showed a changeup in the low 80s, but he was choking the pitch. The walks came in the fifth and sixth innings when Williams’ control wavered as he was flying open with his delivery and yanking pitches to his glove side. Williams pitches with effort and with runners on, he’s very quick to the plate.

2020 DRAFT:�Williams has flashed great promise during his up-and-down, injury-riddled ECU career, but he needed the opportunity to prove himself over a full season this spring in order to boost his stock into first-round consideration. Williams opened eyes by running his fastball up to triple digits as a freshman in 2018, but injury limited him to 15.2 innings of relief that spring, and he logged just 49.1 innings as a starter and reliever in 2019. He opened 2020 on the shelf with a small fracture in his ring finger, but returned to make two scoreless relief appearances, striking out five in three innings. Our last look at Williams came in a fall scrimmage at Virginia, when he came out of the chute with an electric fastball, sitting 96-97 mph in a seven-pitch first inning. He followed with two more scoreless frames, settling in at 94-95 along with a good swing-and-miss changeup at 88-89 and a big-breaking 11-to-5 curveball at 74-77. The development of that breaking ball is a big key for Williams, and it remains a work in progress. He needs to learn to repeat the pitch more consistently. His changeup has always been his No. 2 pitch, and it gives him a legitimate out pitch to go along with his big heater, which remains his calling card. At 6-foot-6, 240 pounds, it's easy to fall in love with Williams' potential, but he has plenty to prove with regards to his command, durability and breaking ball quality.