Kenny Williams Jr.

Kenneth R. Williams

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 198 lb.
• School University of Arizona, Wichita State University
• High School Plainfield (IL) High School

• Born May 22, 1986 in San Jose, CA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical information

Kenny Williams Jr. is the son of Kenny Williams. He was drafted by his father and the Chicago White Sox in the 36th round of the 2004 amateur draft but did not sign. After limited time at the University of Arizona, he transferred to Wichita State University for his junior year, but was declared academically ineligible. In the 2007 amateur draft, the Colorado Rockies took him in the 32nd round. He returned to Wichita State and hit .317/.385/.447 as a senior in 2008. He was drafted by the White Sox in the 6th round even though his father did not want to pick him due to the added pressure of playing in the organization for which he was GM. The team's scouts, led by director Doug Laumann, pushed hard for Williams Jr. and the choice was made.

Williams was assigned to the Great Falls White Sox and made his pro debut on June 17th against the Helena Brewers; he walked in his only appearance and scored. He was 3 for 8 with a double, triple and two steals in his next two games but then went 0 for his next 24. He only hit .114 that first season, but in 2009 was assigned to the Kannapolis Intimidators of the South Atlantic League. There he had a much better year, hitting .255/.312/.371 in 81 games. He moved up to the Advanced Class A Carolina League in 2010, playing for the Winston-Salem Dash. In 74 games, he hit .252/.306/.365, having hit 17 doubles in both of his full seasons.

Up to that point, Williams had not distinguished himself as a top prospect, but he was progressing nicely. In 2011, he hit a big roadblock however, as he was clearly overmatched in his first season at AA with the Birmingham Barons. His batting average fell to .195 and both his OBP and Slugging were below .300 in 83 games. He repeated the level in 2012, and improved to .250/.321/.388, with 18 doubles, 3 triples and 4 homers - basically the same numbers he had put up in his two years of Class A ball. After the season, the White Sox made an anti-nepotistic trade with the Colorado Rockies, sending Williams to the Rocky Mountains in return for Mark Tracy, son of former Colorado manager Jim Tracy. Tracy had plateaued in Class A while his father had just resigned as manager, and Williams' dad had also given up his functions as Sox GM after a decade and a half. However, Kenny retired soon after the trade.