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Pittsburgh Pirates: Alika Williams Promoted to the Big Leagues
The Pittsburgh Pirates are apparently making the decision by calling up Alika Williams, a talented infielder who was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays earlier this season. The Bucs got the former 37th overall pick for reliever Robert Stephenson on June 2nd. Williams is considered a Top 30 prospect in the Organization.
The trade was somewhat scrutinized at the time. The Bucs bullpen is a weakness and the Bucs traded away a potential arm. However, they also brought back a former top draft pick who clearly they believed had more upside. Its the case of getting a potential everyday player for a reliever, give me the everyday player.
Sources: Pirates bringing up SS/2B Alika Williams. Will be his MLB debut. 37th overall pick in '20. Acquired in Robert Stephenson trade. Has been killing it with Triple-A Indy: .305 average, .915 OPS in 36 GP. More to come.
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) July 25, 2023
Williams has shown remarkable improvement in the minor leagues since joining the Pittsburgh Pirates and has outperformed his previous numbers with the Rays. With the Rays his slash line was .237/.314/.417, pretty underwhelming. However, with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he is batting .305/.384/.531. He has played only 6 fewer games in the Bucs Organization at this point. As a middle infielder, he possesses exceptional athleticism, especially in playing plus-plus defense at shortstop, making him a valuable asset to the team who is rotating their middle infielders. So why call him up now?
While it is great to see the Pittsburgh Pirates call up Alika Williams, it is also due to a very unfortunate circumstance.
However, this call-up comes at a tough time due to Tucupita Marcano's unfortunate injury. Marcano was making strides with the Pirates and had earned a start at second base in the last game. Sadly, in the fifth inning, he suffered what looked to be a severe knee injury while attempting to advance to third base, leading to his placement on the 60-day Injury List. The team and fans alike are saddened to see a young player like Marcano get hurt.
Despite the mixed emotions surrounding the call-up, the Pittsburgh Pirates are eager to see what Alika Williams can bring to the team. His strong performances in the minor leagues have earned him this opportunity, and his defensive skills and offensive potential could make a significant impact on the Pirates' roster. Hopefully, Derek Shelton gets him right into the lineup.