Rays prospect Carson Williams homers, swipes a base in AAA clash
Tampa Bay’s top shortstop hopeful Carson Williams went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a stolen base in a 5-4 loss to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday. The 22-year-old guard, who notched his 23rd homer and his 22nd stolen base of the year, continues to show the tools that make him a standout prospect for the Rays.
Williams has been a study in ups and downs at the plate this season. He started strong with a blazing April and May, posting OPS marks of .564 and .632, respectively, before erupting to a 1.000 OPS in June. The hot stretch cooled to a .714 OPS in July, then heated again to .948 in August, signaling that his power-speed combination remains his calling card even as the hit tool lags behind. His biggest obstacle remains a high strikeout rate, sitting at 34.2% at Triple-A, which presents a clear growth hurdle as he advances.
Despite the strikeout concerns, Williams’ blend of power and speed keeps him on the radar. He’s widely viewed as a potential promotion candidate when rosters expand, with scouts and team officials weighing how improved plate discipline could unlock his ceiling at the highest levels.
What to watch next
– Plate discipline: A continued reduction in strikeouts would help translate his raw tools into sustained success.
– Power-speed production: Williams’ home run and stolen base numbers suggest he can impact the game in multiple ways if his hitting comes together.
– Progress toward a call-up: With rosters expanding later in the year, a strong finish could put him on track for a promotion discussion.
Bottom line: Williams has the upside teams crave in a shortstop prospect, pairing speed with power. If he can reel in swing-and-miss and maintain the pace he showed across the season’s hot stretches, a September call-up or a future major-league debut could be in reach.