TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.-- Relief pitcher Jeff Williams has been re-signed by the Traverse City Beach Bums after the right-hander established himself as one of the go-to men out of the squad's 2008 bullpen.
"Our bullpen was the strength of our ball club for the better part of last season, and Jeff Williams was a big part of that," said Beach Bums director of baseball operations Jason Wuerfel. "He has tremendous upside and if he improves this season they way he did last season, then he could have a legitimate shot at getting picked up by an MLB organization."
Williams led the '08 Beach Bums with 15 saves in 39 appearances, holding opponents to a .205 batting average. He struck out 49 batters while issuing just 18 walks in 42 1/3 innings with a 3.40 earned-run average and a 3-4 record.
"While his fastball is consistently in the 88-90 (mph) range, he has the ability to run it up to 94 at times, and his change-up totally baffled left-handed hitters last season to the tune of a .109 batting average. We expect great things out of him again in 2009," finished Wuerfel.
After playing his first two seasons with rookie status (Rookie-1, Rookie-2), Williams will be one of eight LS-1's at Beach Bums spring training. Other 2009 LS-1's (league service one) players are: Brett Bostelman, David Nathanson, Jared Locke, Nick Pepper, Damon Lessler, Ryan Kottke, and John Alonso.
In 2007, the Castle Rock, Colorado native appeared in 38 games, striking out 52 and walked just 23. He earned a 4-2 record with a 4.61 ERA for the Beach Bums.
Williams attended Colorado State University-Pueblo where he led the ThunderWolves in victories as a junior and senior, compiling a 20-12 mark over his career. The 6-5, 220 righty pitched briefly in the Boston Red Sox farm system after the 2006 college season.
The Beach Bums open spring training in early May before opening their 2009 home slate on May 26 against the Southern Illinois Miners at 7:05 p.m.
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