New team. Big opportunity.
That describes Jett Williams’ offseason trade from the Mets to the Brewers in the Freddy Peralta deal.
Blocked at shortstop by Francisco Lindor in New York, the 22-year-old Williams will now get a shot at unseating Joey Ortiz at the position in Milwaukee.
The Brewers also received prospect righthander Brandon Sproat in the Jan. 21 exchange, while the Mets landed 27-year-old righty Tobias Myers.
Williams plays multiple positions, but it is at shortstop that Williams will get his first shot with the Brewers. Milwaukee likes Ortiz’s defense, but his .593 OPS last season was worst among qualifiers.
“Just showing up every day wherever they want to put me,” Williams said of his expectations. “As of right now, it’s at shortstop. But things can change, so just kind of going into it with an open mind of wherever they want to put me, I’ll play.”
Williams is coming off a productive minor league season, one spent primarily at Double-A Binghamton. He reached Triple-A Syracuse in mid September. Overall, he batted .261/.363/.465 with 17 home runs and 34 stolen bases in 130 games.
Williams started 70 games at shortstop, 28 at second base and 25 in center field. He has the type of speed and versatility the Brewers covet, while his 5-foot-7, 175-pound stature has contributed to his upside being undersold.
The same is true of several Brewers players, including Ortiz, Caleb Durbin and Sal Frelick.
“I think that’s kind of what made me the player I am today,” Williams said of his diminutive stature. “Everybody says something, and kind of similar to the Brewers (players), the way they play with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder and scrappy.
“So, I think it’s going to be a good fit.”
The Mets drafted Williams 14th overall out of high school in the Dallas area in 2022.
“He’s a gamer,” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said. “He’s not that big, but he plays with a ton of heart and he’s got incredible tools. He’s one of the fastest players in the minor leagues.
“I think that his versatility is something that’s going to fit very, very well for this team.”