The Cleveland Indians earlier in July, announced the selection of RHP GAVIN WILIAMS with the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
Williams, 21, has pitched in parts of four seasons for the East Carolina Pirates, going 11-5 with a 2.65 ERA across 53 collegiate games/17 starts (149.1IP, 108H, 47R/44ER, 7HR, 53BB, 200SO). The 6-for-6, 238-pound right-hander spent the bulk of his 2021 senior season in the Pirates rotation, finishing 10-1 with a 1.88 ERA (81.1IP, 57H, 18R/17ER, 3HR, 21BB, 130SO) to earn placement on six different All-America teams in addition to being selected as a finalist for both the Dick Howser and Golden Spikes Awards.
He finished among overall 2021 NCAA leaders in K’s-per-9.0IP (5th, 14.39), ERA (11th), strikeouts (11th) and wins (11th). Williams was originally selected by Tampa Bay in the 2017 June draft (30th round) out of Cape Fear High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina where he was a four-year letter winner (18-1, 1.06ERA, 212 strikeouts across 132.0IP). He is slated to graduate this summer with a degree in criminal justice.
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