One-Time Top Prospect Mason Williams Finally Gets The Call From The Yankees
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Mason Williams has rebuilt the trust the Yankees are now showing in him.
Once the club's top position player prospect, Williams is now ranked No. 26 in New York's system, according to MLB.com. However, his solid play of late at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has prompted the Yankees to give him a look, much like they did recently with outfielder Ramon Flores.
"(Williams) has been great," Yankees general manager Cashman told the Daily News. "He was a force in Double-A and he's been a force in Triple-A. Patience is a virtue. When you are tooled-up like he is, when the mental and physical come together, you can move through the system very, very fast."
Williams, selected by New York in the fourth round of the 2010 amateur draft, could make his major league debut on Friday night when the AL East leaders open a weekend series in Baltimore. The 23-year-old outfielder started the season at Double-A Trenton and hit .317 with 11 RBIs and 11 steals in 34 games, then was promoted to Scranton and batted .321 with 11 RBIs in 20 games.
"Players like him, when it comes together, they can really flourish," Cashman said. "He's been growing and maturing. It's really come together and you're seeing it on the field. He's earned this promotion."
Cashman said Williams should see time in center field during his stint with the big club.
Though Flores hit .269 and made several outstanding plays in the field, he was optioned to Scranton on Wednesday. It's unknown how long Williams will stay with the Yankees.
"He's a dynamic young talent and it's a testament to the next level here. We'll see how he looks when there's a third deck," Cashman said.
With closer Andrew Miller on the disabled list with a forearm strain, the Yankees called up right-hander Chris Martin from Scranton to help bolster the bullpen.
Martin was 0-1 with his first big league save and a 3.55 ERA in 15 relief appearances before going on the DL on May 9 because of tendinitis in his right elbow. He made an injury rehabilitation appearance at Scranton on May 30, then was optioned to the RailRiders the following day and has pitched in three more games.
As for starter Ivan Nova's road back from Tommy John surgery, the veteran right-hander's rehabilitation assignment was transferred to Scranton, where he is scheduled to start Saturday. Nova could be back with the Yankees next week.
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