PORT STREET LUCIE — Jett Williams, the Mets’ top prospect, makes a big first impression, never mind that he would fit neatly into the Mets’ small cubicle here. He looks like he belongs on a school playground, not a pro camp — baby-faced and 5-foot-6, 5-foot-7, or 5-foot-8. (Thanks to Williams’ honest nature and some solid help from one of the other writers, I think we actually got it right.)
In fact, height doesn’t really matter in baseball, and it doesn’t matter to Williams at all. Over the past year, Williams has moved up the prospect list to No. 22 (and that’s all) with at least one game. MLB, not just the Mets). One MLB scout praised Williams, calling him a “pack of dynamite.”
Let’s stop talking about height today.
“I’ve dealt with this all my life, all the time. But mostly, it’s made me who I am,” Williams said on the first day of his first major league training camp. “I think I’m playing the way people say I’m playing. I’m playing with a little bit of a shoulder injury.”
Rumor has it that the boy is only 20 years old and not old enough to drink, but he is playing with a purpose. Scouts say he exploded on the field. The Texas high schooler, drafted 14th overall by the Mets in 2022, is a jewel, one of two diamonds he wears in both ears “for style.”
He’s expected to be a top-tier center fielder or second baseman, but he’s also said to be “surprisingly good” at shortstop (which, of course, will be held by Francisco Lindor until 2031).
he is very stylish More than that, he can really play. A slash line of .263/.425/.451 suggests a sharp hitting eye and plus power that belies his height.
One scout said he has “explosive tools with a short swing, accurate barrel and insight, sneaky pop, and plenty of athleticism.”
The scout adds four more words (and two more letters) to sum up Williams as succinctly and completely as possible. “High baseball IQ, tenacious athleticism.”
Williams is determined, but not unrealistic. He understands he is almost certain to start the season at Double-A Binghamton, but stressed that his goal is to make it to the majors in 2024. Based on the reviews gathered and observations made on Friday, that should make us all happy.
Scouts often convey their messages in short words rather than sentences. In Williams’ case, they say he’s a lot of fun to watch. One scout wrote: control zone. impact the ball. Super young. Great makeup. ”
They just started training here, so we’ll have to take their word for his play, his athleticism, his athleticism as well. But I can prove whether the child is really likable or not.
He went through interview after interview on his first day, ignoring all the awkward questions about his height and even the spelling of his name (he says his father wasn’t necessarily a fan of country singer Jett Williams). (It turns out, she’s Hank Williams’ daughter, and even Joan Jett’s daughter, so I simply thought she was distinguished by the extra “T.”) )
Williams has certainly distinguished himself with his play, starting out in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex from Rockwell Heat High School in Heath, Texas, and then moving to the Mets’ minor leagues following a draft agreement for a $3.9 million signing bonus. I crossed most of the He reached four levels in his first full year as a pro, progressing quickly from Rookie Ball to St. Lucie, Brooklyn, and finally Binghamton. He also hit 13 home runs in addition to 45 stolen bases. Power may come in small packages.
“In baseball, what do you need size for?” Williams said. “Just because you’re 6-5 doesn’t mean you can hit the ball farther.”
Williams has proven to be skilled at two key positions, shortstop and center field, and is now willing to play anywhere, whatever position gives him the best chance to reach the majors quickly. He said he liked it. “Shortstop, second, center, left field. As long as I’m the fastest in the big leagues, I’ll play,” he said.
He already looks like a big clubhouse plus, so I think that’s fine. He gives off good vibes in the room. He always has a smile, an air of confidence, and an obvious determination that serves him well. He also gets bonus points for honesty.
When I asked him how tall he was, he said, “5-foot-7, 5-foot-8,” and that’s exactly what it is. Forget about some websites that list him from his 5th to his 6th. That’s clearly wrong. All I know is that at one point there was a 5 to 7 1/2 year old writer standing behind him, and Williams didn’t top him, but Williams beat him just a little bit. We were separated by the difference. So 5-7 to 5-8 is correct, but I would guess that size doesn’t matter one bit for this player.
