Ryan Williams Named Southern League Pitcher of the Week
August 17, 2015 - Southern League (SL1)
Knoxville Smokies News Release
SEVIERVILLE - The Southern League announced Monday that Tennessee Smokies right-hander Ryan Williams has been named the circuit's Pitcher of the Week for the time span between August 10-16. Williams is the first Smokies pitcher to be awarded with a weekly honor by the league and third player after catcher Willson Contreras and first baseman Dan Vogelbach earned Player of the Week honors earlier in the season.
The 23-year-old earned victories in each of his two starts during this past week, yielding a lone earned run in 12 innings of work, adding two walks while fanning nine batters. Included in that stretch was a victory on August 10 versus Jackson that saw Williams retire 18 of the 19 batters he faced over six shutout innings, surrendering only one hit while striking out five. The California native was also victorious on August 15 at Chattanooga after allowing one earned run on just three hits in six innings pitched.
Williams has enjoyed an outstanding first full professional season during his time with the Smokies and Low-A South Bend Cubs, combining for a 12-3 record and 1.98 ERA (27 ER in 123.0 IP), along with 15 walks and 89 strikeouts, while opponents have managed just a .209 batting average against (92-442). The righty also ranks fourth among all full-season pitchers in WHIP (0.87) and tied for eighth in wins. Over his 13 outings with the Smokies, including 12 starts, Williams has posted an 8-2 record and 2.60 ERA (20 ER in 69.1 IP) and paces the Southern League in WHIP (1.00), in addition to ranking tied for first in victories since making his Double-A debut on June 3 at Chattanooga.
Entering play today, the righty also leads all Cubs farmhands in several categories, including victories and earned-run average, in addition to fifth in strikeouts. Williams was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the tenth round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of East Carolina University and owns a career record of 14-4 with a 1.86 ERA (31 ER in 149.2 IP) in 33 appearances, including 20 starts, walking just 18 while fanning 118 opponents.
Williams becomes the first Smokies hurler to earn Pitcher of the Week honors since righty Dan-Eun Rhee was recognized for his efforts between June 23-30, 2014, while Corey Black (April 21-28) also received the honor earlier that season. The 23-year-old is also the third Tennessee player to be honored this year, with catcher Willson Contreras (July 27-August 3)and first baseman Dan Vogelbach (April 9-20, 20-27) each earning the circuit's Player of the Week award during the 2015 campaign.
Following their off day today, the Smokies will return home to Smokies Stadium on Tuesday evening to begin a crucial six-game homestand against the first-place Montgomery Biscuits, with the series-opening contest slated for a 7:05 p.m. start. Tennessee is anticipated to give the nod to RHP Felix Pena (5-7, 3.96) for the first matchup of the week, while Montgomery is expected to counter with RHP Jaime Schultz (7-5, 3.78). Schultz and Pena as of today rank first and second in the Southern League in strikeouts, respectively.
Fans are welcome to enjoy the dog days of summer with Nexgard-Heartgard Tail Waggin' Tuesday that evening, with man's best friends welcome to join their owners and sit out on the outfield berm to enjoy the game. Other highlights during the homestand including All You Can Eat Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday, a post-game fireworks show following Friday night's doubleheader, and a Pat Summitt Bobblehead Giveway to the first 1,000 fans in attendance on Saturday. As part of UT Night on Saturday, Smokies players and coaches will be wearing special orange jerseys that will then be auctioned off during the game to benefit the Pat Summitt Foundation.
Tickets for all remaining 2015 home contests at Smokies Stadium are available and can be purchased online at smokiesbaseball.com, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at 865-286-2300.
Southern League Stories from August 17, 2015
- Biscuits Sweep Barons, Win Ninth-Straight - Montgomery Biscuits
- ESPN Releases Digital Documentary on Biloxi Shuckers Season Entitled "Home" - Biloxi Shuckers
- Heidenreich Returns to Barons - Birmingham Barons
- Blue Wahoos Homestand Highlights August 18-22 - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Shuckers Playoff Tickets Go on Sale Thursday - Biloxi Shuckers
- Winker Named Player of the Week - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Ryan Williams Named Southern League Pitcher of the Week - Knoxville Smokies
- Southern League Names Pitcher and Player of the Week for August 10-16 - SL1
- BayBears and M-Braves Washed out Sunday Night - Mobile BayBears
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