TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil for Life Trevor Williams became the 108th Sun Devil to play Major League Baseball after making his debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday evening. Williams pitched three innings without allowing an earned run, striking out three and allowing just three hits en route to his first Major League victory in his first-ever appearance.
The 108 players Arizona State has sent to the Major Leagues are the most of any school since 1959, the year baseball's modern era started at ASU, and trails only USC, which leads all schools with 111. ASU's major leaguers all debuted since 1963, while USC (1927) has a much longer history of sending players to the MLB. USC's list also includes five freshman-only players.
With Williams' call-up, the Sun Devils have now had at least one major league player on their varsity roster each year from 1961 through 2013, which is the longest current streak in the nation. Thirty-three ASU baseball players have made their MLB debuts since 2002, and Williams is the fifth Sun Devil from the 2011 roster to make it to the MLB. The 1975 team holds the school record with 14.
Williams, a 2010 graduate of Rancho Bernando High School in San Diego, California came to Arizona State for his freshman season following a stellar high school career. The right-handed pitcher started his first year of college strong, appearing in 32 games, earning Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American honors and Honorable Mention All-Pac 10 as he finished the year with a 2.50 ERA, striking out 35 with just six walks as a reliever.
The drafting of Brady Rodgers put Williams on tap as the Friday night starter as a sophomore and he responded to the tune of a 12-2 record with a 2.05 ERA, posting a list of accomplishments that included First Team All-Pac 12 (one of only four sophomores to earn the honor), the Pac-12's only 12-game winner (tied for first in Division I), Collegiate Baseball Louisville Slugger Second Team All-American with the second-most strikeouts (59) on ASU's staff and the fewest walks (13) among pitchers with at least 35 innings pitched.
Williams finished his time as Sun Devil with 175 career strikeouts to just 45 walks and a 3.00 ERA – the sixth best average in the aluminum bat era in school history.
The Miami Marlins selected Williams in the 2nd round of the 2013 MLB draft before he was traded to the Pirates in 2015. At Triple-A Indianapolis this season, Williams pitched 110 1/3 innings and posted a 2.53 ERA with 74 strikeouts.
In his final 10 games with the Indians, Williams went 5-2 in 58 innings with a 1.55 ERA, striking out 45 to just 15 walks. He was named the team MVP for his performance on the season.
Sun Devil Baseball has a long and storied tradition of producing MLB players across the past six-plus decades, including an NCAA-best 409 Sun Devils who have been drafted, a combined 24 World Series appearances and 57 All-Star Games, nine MVP awards, four Rookie of the Year's, 16 Gold Gloves, 17 Silver Sluggers and two World Series MVP honors.
Williams will join the list of Sun Devils who have played in the MLB includes Floyd Bannister, Barry Bonds, Bob Horner, Reggie Jackson, Paul Lo Duca, Oddibe McDowell, Dustin Pedroia and Don Wakamatsu. Pete Lovrich was ASU's first Major Leaguer in 1963.
The 108 players Arizona State has sent to the Major Leagues are the most of any school since 1959, the year baseball's modern era started at ASU, and trails only USC, which leads all schools with 111. ASU's major leaguers all debuted since 1963, while USC (1927) has a much longer history of sending players to the MLB. USC's list also includes five freshman-only players.
Trevor Williams earned his 1st MLB win on Wednesday. He gave the game ball to his dad in a heartwarming moment. https://t.co/FTSupb3YZG
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 8, 2016
With Williams' call-up, the Sun Devils have now had at least one major league player on their varsity roster each year from 1961 through 2013, which is the longest current streak in the nation. Thirty-three ASU baseball players have made their MLB debuts since 2002, and Williams is the fifth Sun Devil from the 2011 roster to make it to the MLB. The 1975 team holds the school record with 14.
Williams, a 2010 graduate of Rancho Bernando High School in San Diego, California came to Arizona State for his freshman season following a stellar high school career. The right-handed pitcher started his first year of college strong, appearing in 32 games, earning Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American honors and Honorable Mention All-Pac 10 as he finished the year with a 2.50 ERA, striking out 35 with just six walks as a reliever.
The drafting of Brady Rodgers put Williams on tap as the Friday night starter as a sophomore and he responded to the tune of a 12-2 record with a 2.05 ERA, posting a list of accomplishments that included First Team All-Pac 12 (one of only four sophomores to earn the honor), the Pac-12's only 12-game winner (tied for first in Division I), Collegiate Baseball Louisville Slugger Second Team All-American with the second-most strikeouts (59) on ASU's staff and the fewest walks (13) among pitchers with at least 35 innings pitched.
Williams finished his time as Sun Devil with 175 career strikeouts to just 45 walks and a 3.00 ERA – the sixth best average in the aluminum bat era in school history.
The Miami Marlins selected Williams in the 2nd round of the 2013 MLB draft before he was traded to the Pirates in 2015. At Triple-A Indianapolis this season, Williams pitched 110 1/3 innings and posted a 2.53 ERA with 74 strikeouts.
In his final 10 games with the Indians, Williams went 5-2 in 58 innings with a 1.55 ERA, striking out 45 to just 15 walks. He was named the team MVP for his performance on the season.
Sun Devil Baseball has a long and storied tradition of producing MLB players across the past six-plus decades, including an NCAA-best 409 Sun Devils who have been drafted, a combined 24 World Series appearances and 57 All-Star Games, nine MVP awards, four Rookie of the Year's, 16 Gold Gloves, 17 Silver Sluggers and two World Series MVP honors.
Williams will join the list of Sun Devils who have played in the MLB includes Floyd Bannister, Barry Bonds, Bob Horner, Reggie Jackson, Paul Lo Duca, Oddibe McDowell, Dustin Pedroia and Don Wakamatsu. Pete Lovrich was ASU's first Major Leaguer in 1963.