Frontier League Saves Leader Headed to Yankees System
July 21, 2009 - Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - Traverse City Beach Bums closer Jeff Williams had his contract purchased today by the New York Yankees.
Williams, a 25-year old native of Castle Rock, Colo., is the owner of Traverse City single season and career records for saves. He has converted on 26 consecutive saves for the Beach Bums dating back to June 6, 2008 including 13 this season, the current top number in the Frontier League.
A third year member of the Beach Bums, Williams was an All-Star this season and earned the save in the midseason exhibition by throwing a 1-2-3 ninth inning with two strikeouts in the East's 5-2 win on July 15 at Rockford's Road Ranger Stadium. He leads the team with 23 appearances and a miniscule ERA of 0.78. He has not allowed a run in his last 16.2 innings of work and has posted 23 strikeouts in 23 innings of work.
During 2008, Williams set a single season team record by converting on 15 saves in 16 opportunities. He appeared in 39 games and finished with a 3-4 record to go along with a 3.40 ERA in 42.1 innings with 49 strikeouts. He debuted with the Beach Bums in 2007 after being let go by Gateway in spring training and was used primarily as a setup man. Williams pitched in 38 games during his first Frontier League season and was 4-2 with an ERA of 4.61 over 56.2 innings to go with 52 strikeouts.
Williams will report to the Charleston RiverDogs in South Carolina. The RiverDogs play in the South Atlantic League and are the full season Class A affiliate of the Yankees. Charleston is opening a series at Greensboro tonight, and Williams will join the team in North Carolina for tomorrow's game. Kalamazoo pitcher Trent Lare was also signed by the Yankees earlier this year and is in the starting rotation for Charleston. It will be the first crack at affiliated ball for Williams, who was signed by the Red Sox out of college at Colorado State-Pueblo but never appeared.
Williams is the first player in 2009 to have his contract purchased by a Major League organization. During 2008 three players moved on to the affiliated ranks with one, Bryan Rembisz, still pitching. Rembisz is currently at Double-A with the Arkansas Travelers in the Angels system.
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