GOODYEAR, Ariz. – It didn’t take long for Brewers infield prospect Jett Williams to announce his return to the Cactus League.
Williams (No. 3 Brewers prospect, MLB Pipeline No. 51) lined a 106.6 mph double to right field off Guardians starter Slade Cecconi in the second inning of Thursday’s 1-0 loss at Goodyear Ballpark. The 22-year-old also walked and got his feet under him at third base after missing more than two weeks with a left quad injury suffered Feb. 23 while legging out a triple against the Padres.
“That’s what he’s been every time I’ve seen him,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “He’s a baseball player. I’m really impressed with him.”
The Brewers acquired Williams with fellow Top 100 prospect Brandon Sproat from the Mets in the Freddy Peralta trade, and probably have the former ticketed for Triple-A. He has two weeks remaining to cement his good impression.
“It felt good getting back into the groove of things,” Williams said. “Going through the preparation of a night game, it flipped the switch of what we’re going to do during the season.”
He came to camp already familiar with his new manager, having met Murphy during an offseason workout in Arizona hosted by Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman. Williams was friendly with Padres Minor Leaguer Kai Murphy, but didn’t know he was the son of the Brewers manager.
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“I was like, ‘What’s he doing here?’” Williams said.
Kai Murphy told Williams it was his father.
“I’m like, ‘That’s funny,’” Williams said. “And he goes, ‘No, that’s my dad.’ That’s pretty cool. I worked out with him for a while and got to pick his brain.”