SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 18: Luke Williams #30 of the Philadelphia Phillies watches during batting practice before the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Friday, June 18, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MLB Photos via Getty Images
Even though the Philadelphia Phillies brought back Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto on new contracts to keep their core of veteran stars intact, the team is embracing somewhat of a youth movement.
The team opened the season with top prospects Justin Crawford in the outfield and Andrew Painter in the rotation. The early returns indicate that the two have a good chance at realizing the potential the team saw in them as early round draft picks, but the Phillies’ other recent selections haven’t all worked out as well.
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On Monday, the Phillies received notice that their former third-round pick, Luke Williams, who debuted with the team in 2021, had been designated for assignment by the Atlanta Braves and moved off of their 40-man big-league roster.
“The Braves announced today that outfielder Michael Harris II has been reinstated from the paternity list,” Steve Adams reported for MLB Trade Rumors. “In a corresponding move, infielder Luke Williams has been designated for assignment. Atlanta’s 40-man roster count drops from 39 to 38.”
Williams was drafted in the 2015 draft out of high school and spent the first part of his Phillies tenure developing in the minor leagues. He was called up to replace Nick Maton six years later and, surprisingly, tripled on a bunt and error from the Atlanta Braves in his first big-league game.
Williams slashed .245/.315/.316 in 58 games for the Phillies, making most of his starts in center field. But the Phillies pushed him off of the big-league roster just before Opening Day in 2022 and he played for three different National League teams before landing with the Braves in 2023.
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“The Braves have successfully passed him through waivers unclaimed on three separate occasions since first claiming him from the Dodgers,” Adams added. “Williams will have the right to reject an outright assignment if he clears waivers, but even if he does, recent history tells us there’s a good chance he’d re-sign with the organization and head back to Triple-A Gwinnett anyhow.”
Though Williams started his career with the Phillies, it seems he has become a favorite for the Braves’ organization, even if that hasn’t translated into a lasting big-league spot. As he looks to continue his professional career, the veteran utility man seems likely to return to the Braves Triple-A affiliate, the Gwinnett Stripers.
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