Could Rockwall-Heath High School shortstop Jett Williams slide to the Red Sox at No. 24 overall?
The Red Sox will select No. 24 overall on Sunday in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft. Boston has been connected to numerous young talent from Kumar Rocker, Cole Young, Jordan Beck and Drew Gilbert.
One intriguing player is Rockwall-Heath High School shortstop Jett Williams. The prep star has upside and tools that will get him drafted in the first round.
The 5-foot-8 shortstop maybe one of the smallest players in the top 250, according to MLB Pipeline, scouts “called him the best hitter on the summer showcase circuit.”
Baseball America has Williams ranked as the No. 15 overall prospect in the draft. However, he could slide in the first round due to a nagging right shoulder injury. Another reason he could slide to the Red Sox is that he could play at Mississippi State.
“In the box, Williams stands with an upright stance and his hands close to his chest. Williams strides into the ball, drawing his hands back in time prior to contact. His plus bat speed is eye-opening, resulting in higher exit velocities off the barrel and gap shots you wouldn’t expect to come from someone of his age and stature,” according to a write up in Baseball America.
Defensively, Baseball American went on to say, “Scouts marvel at his ability to track spin and use all fields, which gives the notion that the transition into professional baseball should come with little restraint. Williams is a plus runner, turning in 60-yard dash times around 6.5 seconds. It’s not a rare occurrence to see him turn a single into a double and a double into a triple. Defensively, Williams’ plus speed, quickness, reads and instincts give scouts everything they look for in a center fielder. He has the ability to go deep in the gaps to make the difficult play and combines his defense with a solid-average arm.”
Fans might question as to why the Red Sox would draft another infielder in the first round. Over the last two seasons chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has drafted Nick Yorke and Marcelo Mayer in the first round.
The Red Sox will like most teams select the best available player on their draft board. In baseball it is hard to draft for need because players developmental process is different than other sports.
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