Round 16: Deion Williams, SS, Redan HS (Georgia)

(from Baseball Factory)

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MiLB

2011 Stats:

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
2011	18	Nationals	GULF	Rk	WSN	30	111	102	6	16	0	0	0	7	3	1	8	44	.157	.216	.157	.373	16	6	0	0	1	0
1 Season						30	111	102	6	16	0	0	0	7	3	1	8	44	.157	.216	.157	.373	16	6	0	0	1	0

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/29/2012.

Sean's one word analysis: Toolsy.

Thoughts from the community: "Williams was the only HS player that the Nats were able to sign in the '11 draft. It will be some time before he gets out of Florida as that .157/.216/.157 line was what scouts warned against while praising his other tools. "Raw" is the word most often found word in his writeups." - Luke Erickson, Nationals Prospects (@nats_prospects)

Previous analysis and notes: Williams is given the label "toolsy" meaning either he can't hit or he's just really fast. The 16th round is an excellent place to take a risk on a guy like Williams, though, especially given his ML bloodlines (both his father, Dion Williams and grandfather, George Scott, played with the Red Sox organization). Williams is the most unexpected early signing to since he's a high schooler.
Nats.com roundup: "The 6-foot-3 shortstop signed a letter of intent at Georgia State after playing in the Under Armour All-American Game as a high school junior. His father and grandfather both played professionally in the Red Sox organization."
From Matt Garrioch, MLB Bonus Baby, 6/17/2011: "Deion Williams is a 6'3", 180 LB athletic shortstop who is good defensively and has a very good arm. He is very raw with the bat. He has signed already and is struggling. He will need time. I would bet he will repeat rookie ball next year and hopefully he will have shown some improvement by then. He may be slow to come around but he could be worth the wait."
From John Sickels, Minor League Ball, 6/14/2011: "Williams is toolsy and raw and has major league bloodlines, being the grandson of former major leaguer George Scott."
From Baseball America, 6/7/2011: "The state's top middle-infield challenger to Julius Gaines was athletic Deion Williams, who plays at Redan High, the same school that produced recent big league infielders Brandon Phillips and Chris Nelson. At 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, he's tall and lean with an excellent frame that should fill out well. He has bloodlines as the grandson of former big league slugger George Scott. His defense is his best attribute now, as he has arm strength and quick feet. He doesn't have great actions, and while his swing has some looseness, he doesn't drive the ball consistently. He's signed to Georgia State."
From Mike Holmes, Georgia State Sports, 11/17/2010: "Deion Williams is a nationally ranked prospect from Redan High School where he played for Marvin Pruitt, one of the most successful baseball coaches in the state...A multi-tool shortstop, Deion currently ranked as the fifth best player in the state of Georgia and is ranked 86th nationally by PGCrosschecker...He led Redan to the final four of the state playoffs last season, one of the top finishes in school history...Last year, he participated in the Under Armour All-American Game after playing summer ball for former Panthers Mark Mortimer and Jack Stewart...Baseball has a long tradition in his family as his grandfather, George Scott, signed with the Boston Red Sox and spent 13 years playing professional baseball. His father Dion also played in the Boston Red Sox organization and was the head coach at McNair High School for 11 years, winning 200 games."

Williams signed with the Nats on June 16, 2011.