Impact News: Another piece of the Yankees onion is being peeled back as it looks like the Bronx Bombers are calling up uber talent Mason Williams. The 23-year old has been one of the top prospects in the New York Yankees farm system for a few years but did have a rough couple of seasons before returning to form. But what can we expect from the MLB Impact News: Yankees Call Up Mason Williams, Predicting the Future is always a bit interesting but let’s give it a try.
Short Term Impact: With the injury to Jacoby Ellsbury and ineptness of Carlos Beltran, the Yankees knew it was time to see how the youngster handles the big stage. Mason Williams is extremely fast and makes sliding around the outfield look effortless. This should allow Brett Gardner to move back to left field. The team will get to see if the youngster can make that final transition step to the big club.
Many will say he will be the fifth outfielder behind Brett Gardner, Carlos Beltran, Chris Young and Garrett Jones but I just cannot see that as the case. Beltran has been horrible and Jones is not huge asset. Expect playing time for Williams right away.
Long Term Impact: Mason Williams had a disappointing 2014 but his 2015 campaign is exactly what the Yankees wanted to see. He is rated as an above average defender with above average speed. While he is not a conventional power hitter he does have a great eye and a knack for finding base. So far in AA and AAA split through 54-games, Williams is hitting .318 with a .795 OPS. The more impressive stat should be that he has struck out (23 times) less than he has drawn walks (27 times) in 2015.
The organizational plan in New York has always included some combination of Mason Williams and Slade Heathcott. Heathcott was showing what he was capable of earlier this year before a trip to the disabled list and now it is Williams turn. Depending on the outcome of this MLB debut for Williams, he could very well be playing his way into a lineup that does not change for the next five-to-nine years.
I would not be surprised to see Ellsbury, Gardner, Heathcott and Williams as the four Yankees outfielders for next few years. In fact, a couple of years ago one of the Sports Unbiased writers, Rich Stowe talked about Mason Williams after a trip to the Arizona Fall League.
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