Steven Williams

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #400 prospect in 2021 draft
  Williams was draft-eligible in 2020 and ranked as the No. 181 player in the class a year ago, as scouts were enamored with his lefthanded bat, power potential and track record as a freshman All-American who then went and performed on the Cape. Williams wasn’t able to rediscover that offensive production and struggled to hit over .300 the next three seasons. This spring Williams hit .247/.356/.534 and did manage a career-high 13 homers that eclipsed his 2018 mark of 12, but he also struck out close to 24% of the time while doing so. Williams has been a chronic tinkerer at the plate who’s changed his swing repeatedly, but he certainly has above-average raw power in a strong, 6-foot-3, 216-pound frame. Williams was a catching prospect out of high school but moved to a full-time outfield role early with Auburn, but this spring got a solid amount of time behind the plate and teams could be interested in trying him there at the next level, as he’s a below-average runner with above-average arm strength.
• Ranked #181 prospect in 2020 draft
  Williams enamored scouts with his lefthanded bat and power potential out of high school. At the time he was a catching prospect with questions about whether he could stick behind the plate, and has since transitioned to a full-time outfield role with Auburn. He had a freshman All-American season in 2018, leading the team with a .409 on-base percentage and tying for second with 12 home runs. He continued his loud start to his college career by heading to the Cape Cod League after his freshman season, where he hit .303/.477/.394 and made the league’s all-star team. Teams will have a difficult time squaring the 2018 version of Williams with the 2019 version who hit just .247/.355/.413 with a higher strikeout rate. He didn’t get to prove the quality of his bat in a shortened 2020 season and was also hampered at times by a hamstring injury. As a below-average runner, Williams will be limited to a corner outfield spot at the next level, but he has above-average arm strength that could fit in either left or right. While he won’t be a great defender, most scouts think he will do enough to be serviceable. But scouts have also lamented the inconsistency that Williams has shown, both from season to season and game to game. The 6-foot-3, 216-pound outfielder has plenty of power, but he has tinkered with his swing consistently and evaluators believe that has led to some of the inconsistencies he’s shown. He gets the bat through the zone well and has above-average power, but will need to figure out a consistent, reliable approach to avoid slumps at the next level.
• Ranked #114 prospect in 2017 draft
  Scouts aren't sure exactly where Williams will end up playing, but they all seem to agree that he'll hit and hit for power at the next level. He has plus bat speed and excellent natural timing in the batter's box. He performed well on the summer showcase circuit and in the fall as he began to tap into the plus raw power that his broad-shouldered 6-foot-3 frame provides. If scouts were convicted in his ability to stay behind the plate, Williams could be a first round pick. Despite his athleticism, Williams is a high-butt receiver with limited lateral mobility. He caught some of the top arms in the nation in the summer, including Shane Baz and 2018 righthander Kumar Rocker, and his hands left more to be desired. Most evaluators see Williams landing in the outfield because he's a near-average runner and he has a plus arm. Others note his desire to improve himself and excellent leadership and makeup and would like to see a pro team try him behind the plate. Regardless of where he plays, Williams will make an impact on the game with his lefthanded power bat. Some teams are interested in him as high as the second round, but most scouts see him going in the third or fourth if he's signable at that point.