Corbin Williams: Phillies All-Star Prospect

Bryan Green/Flickr

August 22, 2019

New York-Penn League All-Star Game

Richmond County Bank Ballpark, Staten Island, New York

On the weekend of August 17, Philadelphia Phillies minor leaguer Corbin Williams had a letter waiting for him in his locker. He ripped it open with excitement, only to find out that he had been selected to the New York-Penn League All-Star game. A week later, he and his three fellow all-star teammates traveled to Staten Island, NY, where the All-Star Game would take place at Richmond County Bank Ballpark. 

“This is amazing.” Williams tells me. “The field is great, the scenery is good and the fans are showing a lot of love. . . I’m appreciative.”

Williams, a Philadelphia native, was drafted by his hometown Phillies in the 24th round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He played two weeks in the Florida rookie league, the GCL, before breaking his hand. Prior to going on the shelf, he was hitting .289 with 12 stolen bases. Williams was so excited to get back onto the field, that within 24 hours of his surgery he was back at the Phillies complex in Clearwater, FL rehabbing.

Corbin Williams/Instagram

During the winter, he traveled to the Phillies Dominican Republic Baseball Academy in San Pedro to get some at-bats in against a high level of competition. After the spring, he was held in Extended Spring Training from April to June, meaning that he would only play a half a season with a minor league team. He was assigned to the Williamsport Crosscutters in mid-June and had a hot start to the season, hitting .277 with 16 stolen bases over his first 25 games. 

“[I’ve been working on] controlling my bat, and [my] mental toughness,” Williams said.

His 6’2 170 frame doesn’t help him with power. So, getting the bat on the ball and letting his speed do the rest is his biggest key. Corbin is currently leading the New York-Penn League in stolen bases with 28 in 50 games. 

Through injuries and struggles, Willams has still enjoyed the game. “It’s a grind,” but the 21-year-old Williams won’t let the long bus rides and small paychecks stop him. He is working hard everyday to achieve his big league goals.