J.D. Williams - 2014

[Shane Wahl]

Name: J.D. (JaDamion) Williams

Position: OF

Hand: Switch

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 183

DOB: November 20, 1990

POB: Odessa, Florida

Shane's prospect ranking: 24

2014 start: Fort Myers (DL)

 

2013 statistics (Cedar Rapids/Fort Myers): 486 plate appearances, .265/.372/.403 (.775), 17 doubles, 6 triples, 9 homers, 26 steals, 13 times caught stealing, 66 walks, 105 strikeouts.

 

Williams obviously dominated Cedar Rapids and struggled in Fort Myers, but given how repeating A ball in 2013 worked, I am confident that Williams will figure out the FSL. I like the approach with Williams, and wish the Twins would do it more often . . . promote a guy 2/3 of the way through the season so he gets a taste of the next level before starting the next season there.

 

Williams is a speedster who can play all three OF positions. He also really loves to play baseball and he has that Revere-esque smile. Fortunately, he can actually hit for some power. He starts on the DL in a Fort Myers OF featuring Buxton, Kepler, and Walker. If he can continue to handle the bat, Williams provides another long-term OF option. I would certainly like to see at least one Twins game in a few years with a Williams-Buxton-Hicks OF.

[Shane Wahl]

Williams is back in Cedar Rapids to start the year. While the Twins have many OF above him, only a few of them are actually good, so it is a little odd that Williams is down again at a level he excelled at in 2013.

 

In 28 plate appearances this year he has a slash line of .364/.464/.455 (.919), with a couple doubles and 4 walks. He has played 4 games in LF and one in CF so far. At some point, the logjam in Fort Myers needs to be cleared. There are spots available for promoting to New Britain (and the good NB OFs to Rochester as well).

[Steven Buhr]

I'm just guessing, but I wonder if Williams is just in CR for as long as Buxton is in Ft Myers. They both needed at bats to shaike the rust off. Williams certainly looks like he's done that and then some. I agree he needs to get up to FT Myers (at least) sooner than later, though I sure enjoy watching him play in CR. Great guy.

[Shane Wahl]

Still waiting for Williams' return from the DL. Anyone have any more information on his injury?

[Steven Buhr]

I haven't asked Jake about JD since I was over in Kane County almost 2 weeks ago, but at that time, Williams was still feeling some soreness. They had been sending guys down to Extended to get some swings in right before re-activating them and I know he was still in CR prior to the All-Star break. That might seem to indicate it could still be a while.

[lightfoot789]

Seems so disrespectful to have JD playing in CR again. I know he's hurt, but that's where he was sent period.

[Shane Wahl]

It is odd. He isn't great at CR right now, but he should be in FTM again after being promoted there last year. Fort Myers is a key testing ground anyway for hitters, so they should promote him. Good god, there is some serious outfield movements needed from CR up in this organization. The Twins promoted Lance Ray to see how he reacts to NB, so I don't see why Williams (who is way better NOW) shouldn't get the not to Fort Myers. This kind of speed and these bursts of offensive performance shouldn't be denied.

[Shane Wahl]

In other words, I do think there are psychological ramifications involved here regarding performance. Sometimes actual valued prospects just need to be pushed to keep them them confident about there value (I see this as important in org. prospects ranked 15-35 in particular). The Twins org fills in the organization with aging players from the top down. That is a problem. A quick look at the rosters shows enormous holes begging for promotion from below (to, at least, see what prospects in the 15-35 or beyond can actually do).

[Shane Wahl]

Williams still struggling in low-A. Maybe pushing him to Fort Myers would actually give him more confidence. The treatment of Williams here is rather puzzling.

[Jim H]

I don't know the whole story on Williams, but the simple answer is for him to play better. That is how you progress in the minors. What does happen with prospects like him is that while I wouldn't classify him as an org type guy, he isn't probably considered a real high ceiling guy either. Often guys like that get worked in around higher ceiling guys who are placed where they need to be. That is my perception anyway.

[lightfoot789]

Why promote him last season to high A at mid season only to send him back down to Low A all of this season? Doesn't seem fair to the player. They never seem to give players reasons for their moves. I know they are property (of the Twins), but you would think last years move doesn't justify this years move. Had he not gotten hurt in spring training - he surely would have been in Fort Myers.

[lightfoot789]

Talk about killing a kids spirit.................

[rcfarmer]

Williams still struggling in low-A. Maybe pushing him to Fort Myers would actually give him more confidence. The treatment of Williams here is rather puzzling.

 

The puzzling part would be promotion based on poor performance. That message would certainly ring hollow on other Twins prospects in Cedar Rapids.

[lightfoot789]

Talk about disrespected all year.  Kanzler was sent up to Fort Myers before JD.  Kanzler had a great 1st game in FM, but still?  JD Williams is not even listed on your organizational depth chart.  Is this a premonition? I hope they release him after the season so he can have a legitimate chance to play at a higher level for some organization.  He might be a life time AA guy, but he definitely wasn't a A+  ball  demotion player IMO.

[lightfoot789]

Talk about killing a kids spirit.................

 

No doubt!

[Shane Wahl]

 

 

I would like to get the full story on Williams' health this season. Something just doesn't seem right. Of course the bizarre demotion at the beginning of the year didn't help. Hopefully he gets some respect and starts at Fort Myers next year.

[Steven Buhr]

Williams sat out much of the time Joe Mauer was in the CR line up, but has played in 6 of the last 7 Kernels games that corresponds to their current 7-game winning streak. Williams has hit .353 in that stretch, with 3 triples and a HR. The 3 triples have come in the last 4 games he's played.

 

It's pretty clear from speaking with both Jake Mauer and Williams himself that his knee has been an issue for much of the season. The good news, though, is that he says he's feeling much better now... and the results on the field are showing it.

[Shane Wahl]

Thank a whole bunch, Jim! This was really helpful for understanding what is going on with Williams this year. It has been a lost season up until now.

[Shane Wahl]

It's another thing to think about when considering prospects and promotions. If a player is being nagged with injuries, it is likely not very wise to have him potentially struggle with that while also dealing with a new level of competition. I don't think that fully applies in this case, but it is something to consider.

[Steven Buhr]

I think that is quite possibly what's happened in this case. There's some speculation within the organization that JD wasn't really quite right yet when he came to CR, but that he really just wanted to get out of extended spring training. If they suspected that might be the case at the time, I could see the team applying the thinking you're referring to. If he's still not 100%, don't make it tougher for him by making him compete at a higher level, too. Then, he just kept tweaking the leg in CR and has had trouble getting and staying healthy.

 

The important thing is to get him healthy and back on track so he can show what he can do and resume his path up the ladder.