“Hey, I am going to be here next year, just so you know.” Those were the words that the Mets’ No. 3 prospect (according to MLB Pipeline) spoke to his agent, Craig Rose on September 28 outside of Citi Field, the day Williams was awarded with his organizational player of the year award. Will Sammon broke down Williams’ goals and what drives his desires in an article on The Athletic.

Williams has been doubted by many over the course of his career. His 5’8” height has had many shaking their heads at some of Williams’ goals, and many of those doubters have been proven wrong over the course of his career, including in 2023 when he went from Low-A St. Lucie in April to Double-A Binghamton in late September. He now has his sights set even higher – Citi Field in 2024.

“I just see myself playing here,” Williams said optimistically. “Obviously there’s a lot of work to do, That’s what’s we’re going to do this offseason. But just know I can see it,” said the 19-year old shortstop out of Rockwall-Heath High School. “If I prepare and do what I need to do in the offseason, I’m gonna be there next year.,” he stated.

Williams, who Mets minors has listed as their No. 4 prospect according to their end-of season updated top prospects list, was drafted by the Mets in the first round of the 2022 MLB draft at No. 14 overall to the Mets. The staff at Mets Minors has him ranked as their No. 4 prospect behind No. 3, catcher Kevin Parada, No. 2, outfielder Drew Gilbert, and at the top of the list at No. 1 is infielder Luisangel Acuna, brother of the Braves’ star Ronald Acuna. Acuna is slated to be Williams’ biggest competition in the race to the Major Leagues. Williams sits ahead of No. 5, first baseman/ outfielder Ryan Clifford and No. 6, infielder Colin Houck who can play second base, shortstop, and third base.

Williams began the 2023 season with Low-A St. Lucie and quickly found himself with Double-A Binghamton by Mid-September.

Williams has a reason to be confident. His numbers throughout his first full year in the minor league system prove that if he continues to impress as next season gets underway, 2024 could be accurate self-prediction by Williams and he could make his big league debut if he continues to play well.

From April through July with St. Lucie, Williams batted .249/.422/.410, with a .832 OPS. He hat 12 doubles, six triples, six home runs, 35 RBI’s, was walked 69 times, and had an impressive 32 stolen bases (with just 12 times caught stealing) and 51 runs scored. He started the season off slow and in a slight slump in May after trying something new with his swing, but after reverting back to a technique that proved successful for him in high school, Williams began hitting well again, hitting a triple and a home run in the first game of the season in which he used his old high school swing.

In his confident ways, Williams told himself, “Ok, I got my oppo power back, I am driving the ball oppo, and I’m pulling it. I just gotta stay right here and get better every day.”

He did just that. He stayed humble, wasn’t overly confident, improved his numbers, and by the beginning of September found himself headed to the Cyclones.

He was promoted to High-A Brooklyn on July 31 and was there through the beginning of September. During his time in Brooklyn, Williams continued to improve and put up impressive stats. He batted .299/.451/.567, with a 1.018 OPS. He had nine doubles, two triples, seven home runs, and drove in 18 RBI’s with Brooklyn. He also had 12 stolen bases and 25 runs scored. He was caught stealing just once in High-A. Cyclones manager Chris Newell told Williams, “You’re 19-years old trapped in a 28-year old kid’s body,” when speaking about his competitiveness, which Williams said he contributes to his family.

Williams was then once again promoted on September 11 as the Mets assigned their No. 3 prospect to Double-A where he would finish off the season in very impressive fashion. Fans in Binghamton saw a show each time they stepped into the ballpark as Williams continued to slash: .277/.308/.273, with a .581 OPS over the course of six games played. He had a double, two RBI’s, two walks, and a stolen base. He scored five runs at the double-A level. His stats were good enough to award Williams as an All-MiLB prospect second team member for Binghamton.

The stats mentioned above show that Williams high aspirations of a 2024 MLB debut are ones that should be taken as serious comments. Williams is a confident player with a strong drive to accomplish his goals. He got that from his father, who when Williams was in high school gave him the advice of writing down his goals and “if people aren’t laughing at your goals, then you’re not dreaming big enough.” One of those goals was to be drafted in the first round of the MLB draft – he accomplished that. He now has a lofty goal (that yes some might say are crazy) to make a 2024 MLB debut just two years after being drafted. But with a drive and desire like Williams’, it can be done. Look at Randy Dobnak of the Minnesota Twins who went from High-A to the big leagues in just one season.

Williams feeds off of negative energy and doesn’t let the opinions of others get in his way. He remains confident without coming across as cocky, and uses failure (such as not making certain teams in high school because of his online rankings on some websites) as motivation. Analysts say that being motivated, but not ‘bitter’ will help him handle the pressure of playing in New York and the criticism that can come from fans when players aren’t producing.

Williams spoke on what he expects New York to be like when he gets there:

“I know that New York is going to be crazy when I get there if I do really good or if I do bad,” he said. “And so for me, I’ve always felt like I’m going to do good. And I know that obviously there’s gonna be times where you’re going to struggle. But I know that if I don’t do something good, I am gonna get booed because it’s just how New York is. For me, the way I am, it’s just like if somebody boos me or says something that just kind of fires me up, like, OK, I’m going to show them differently,” said the soon to be 20-year old prospect from Texas.

Williams’ goal board now his aspiration of making his MLB debut in 2024 as a top item. He sees his goal every morning and it sits in his mind with him. He uses it as motivation in practice and in training.

“There’s still a lot of work to do,” Williams said. “Especially if I want to reach the big leagues next year. That’s the big goal of mine,” he said.