The Daily Gamecock

Patience paying off for Matt Williams

In his third season playing with the South Carolina baseball team, first baseman Matt Williams’ patience is paying off in a big way.

Not only has the junior been selective in the batter’s box, he’s also earned significant time on the diamond.

“He’s just been a steady influence,” coach Chad Holbrook said of Williams. "I hope our other guys are watching Matt, watching his approach, watching how he plays the game because you can learn something from the way he competes and battles in the batter’s box.”

Williams leads the Gamecocks with a .413 batting average, going 19-for-46 at the plate. In 16 appearances, he’s tallied eight RBIs and has drawn more walks (seven) than strikeouts (five). One of the most integral factors of his offensive game is his ability to hit to both sides of the field.

“Ninety percent of the pitches we get are off the play in a way, so I just try to get on the dish, try to serve the ball to the other side of the field, use the whole part of the field,” Williams said.

The left-handed batter had one of his most productive outings as a Gamecock in South Carolina’s 5-2 victory over Michigan State on Saturday. Batting third, he chalked up three hits, including two singles and his first home run of the season.

“I was pretty much just sitting on slider the whole at bat because I saw it a good bit in the previous at bats, so I was just able to put a good swing on it," Williams said of his home run.

“I’m just trying to get a good pitch. It’s all about pitch selection and being patient, just getting your pitch, really.”

As the son of Steve Williams, the head baseball coach at Belton-Honea Path High School in Honea Path, South Carolina, Matt Williams grew up around the sport and developed instinctive leadership qualities from a young age. Following the second game of the Michigan State series, Holbrook said Williams was one of the team’s best coaches in the dugout, as he constantly gives other batters insight on what he sees from the opposing pitcher.

“I try to go back in the dugout and let them know what [the pitcher] is trying to do with lefties,” Williams said. “I tell (Alex) Destino to watch me, watch my at bats and other lefties, like Danny (Blair) and LT (Tolbert). Just those guys, ‘Watch what he does to me. Then he’s probably going to try to do the same thing to y'all.’”

Williams arrived to USC in 2014, but took a redshirt season his freshman year. He saw his first in-game action in 2015, making 10 appearances and one start. The next year, he played in 18 games as a redshirt sophomore, batting .240 (6-for-25) with three runs and two RBIs.

In his first two active seasons with the team, Williams was utilized in a platoon role and was rotated into the lineup as a pinch-hitter. Now he’s earned a steady starting spot at first base and bats in the middle of the lineup.

Coming in just a few years after South Carolina’s back-to-back College World Series titles in 2010 and 2011, Williams knew he was joining a talented roster and would have to be patient to get any playing time.

“From the start, Holbrook told me that I was going to be a big part of the program eventually and I just kind of was patient and trusted him and now it’s kind of paying off,” Williams said. “I don’t really think about that too much. I just try to go out there and have good [at bats] every time.”

Right-handed pitcher Wil Crowe, who started in Saturday’s victory, credits Williams’ development to his relentless work ethic from the batting cages to the weight room.

“It’s crazy to see where he started, now where he is and how he’s progressing,” Crowe said. “He’s tireless. He’s in there working on his swing with [Brian Buscher], working in the cages, working in the weight room. He’s a great worker and on top of that he’s a great teammate.”


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