2021 4th round pick (106): Donta Williams - OF - (Senior) Arizona

[lovetoaster]

5-10 185 L/L

[NCRaven]

Okay.  This is getting a little ridiculous.

 

[Moose Milligan]

Another outfielder!  Awesome.

 

[forphase1]

At least our outfield will be well stocked...

[SteveA]

Elias is just effing with us now.

22 years old.   He can provide veteran leadership to all the young 21 year olds we are bringing into the system.

[BohKnowsBmore]

Kid that will stick at CF that put up increasingly strong numbers year to year at Arizona. Power/speed combo with more walks than strikeouts in each of the last two seasons.

.342/.481/.538 in 62 games this past season.

[Moose Milligan]

I'd have preferred it if he went this crazy on arms.  Like my strategy from a few years ago, just draft nothing but pitching, rounds 1-50.  Someone good would have had to have landed.  

[Hazmat]

Not in the MLB Top 250 prospects.

[Yossarian]

It's obvious Elias doesn't think Yusniel Diaz is going to make the MLB team now, right?  Probably has doubts about the future of Stewart, McKenna, Hays and Santander in the outfield, too.

[waynebug]

3 college centerfielders in the first 5 picks.

More underslot !!!!

Edited July 12, 2021 by waynebug
Spell check

[MurphDogg]

He is actually a senior, not a junior.

[lovetoaster]

Quote

“He is truly the engine of our offense,” UA coach Jay Johnson said. “I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves. He very easily could have been the Pac-12 Player of the Year. I think he’s an All-American-caliber player.”

 

No participant in the CWS gets on base at a greater rate than Arizona’s leadoff hitter. Williams has a .495 on-base percentage. He has reached safely in 47 consecutive games. But that’s hardly all he does for the Wildcats.

 

Williams leads the team with 80 runs and nine stolen bases. He runs the bases with abandon. He plays center field with no regard for his body. He simply plays hard all the time.

“He’s a great leader in terms of words. He says the right things,” Johnson said. “He’s a great leader in terms of actions, in terms of controllable things, work ethic, off the field.

“But I think his true value is how he impacts our team on the field, impacts his teammates.”

 

Williams has saved his best for what should be his last run at Arizona before getting drafted and turning pro next month. In six postseason games, he’s hitting .481 (13 for 27) with nine runs. He also has two homers.
 

Williams has improved steadily as a Wildcat, raising his batting average and slugging percentage every season. Since the start of the 2020 campaign, he has 20 more walks (65) than strikeouts (45).

https://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/baseball/cws-notes-donta-williams-is-the-engine-that-fires-up-arizona-s-prolific-offense/article_e85dd566-d05b-11eb-b820-fb480881878f.html

[SteveA]

Just now, MurphDogg said:

He is actually a senior, not a junior.

But we'll have to fork over some $$$ or else he might go to grad school.

[Ripken]

Elias can trade every hitter on the Orioles for pitching now.  

[webbrick2010]

2 minutes ago, SteveA said:

Elias is just effing with us now.

22 years old.   He can provide veteran leadership to all the young 21 year olds we are bringing into the system.

Yeah, don't see why we can't pick up a 5th year / grad student OF'er in the next round.

Worst draft ever???