It is entirely possible that you didn’t know the name Harrison Williams prior to this summer.
And that’s certainly fair if so, as the switch-hitting catcher out of Gladiator Baseball had been putting in the work, but the level of national interest hadn’t quite caught up. There had been some conversations with some JUCO schools and even a handful of D1’s, but the Lumberton, Texas native knew there was more out there for him if he simply continued to keep his head down and keep grinding.
He was right.
Williams put together an enormous summer, including a memorable homer at the New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series National Combine, taking one of the top arms at the event out to deep right center at a D1 park to really help open some eyes on what he was capable of in high-level game situations. Rice University agreed, and a commitment to play college baseball was announced in early August.
“Not being as well known, I feel like it’s always been making a name for myself everywhere I go,” he said. “Leave it all on the field is something I’ve always been told by my coaches, advisors and parents. I feel like I swing as hard as I can, not just in case you hit, but that’s how I train, to do damage every time I swing.”
That he can do it from both sides of the plate adds tremendous value to a very unique profile, as it’s rare to see a switch-hitting backstop these days, particularly one who can handle himself behind the dish as well as Williams can. The story behind how he learned to hit from the right side as well — he’s a natural lefty bat — is a fun one.
“The competitive nature in me, when we’d be done hitting left-handed, I would always ask to hit right, my dad would always tell me no and said until you master left-handed, we’ll basically stick to that,” Williams said. “Finally, he gave me the green light when I was about five or six and spun me around to right-handed, and I’ve never looked back. I do see more right-handed pitching, so (I hit) left-handed a bit more, but I enjoy doing both. I feel pretty equal on both sides of the plate. I definitely feel like it’s something I bring to the table that isn’t very common, definitely try to hold onto it and work at it as long as I can and have that be an advantage for me in the long run.”
Williams swings with intent from both sides of the plate, even during batting practice, and it’s produced results for him in particular this summer. The home run he hit with us wasn’t the only ball he sent over the fence on the amateur circuit, and when combined with the overall package he brings to the table, finally helped earn him the recognition he’s long deserved.
Not much has changed, Williams says, as he continues to play his game. But the attention on him now has.
“I would certainly give a special thanks to Jeremy Booth and that whole coaching room over at Future Stars,” he said. “It’s continuing to play my game. The work doesn’t stop even though the commitment has happened. Continue being myself and working hard every day. The hard work has definitely paid off, just being recognized as what I always thought I was and finally getting the right eyes to see it…with Rice and some of the other schools, I definitely got some traction after (the National Combine homer) and it just got the ball rolling from there.”
Indeed, Williams stays close to home to play his college baseball — and that’s certainly not to rule out a look in the upcoming 2027 MLB Draft given his profile continues to rise — and is excited to show what he can do there once he gets to campus next year.
“My whole life, all 18 years, I’ve been a baseball player and it’s been a dream of mine to play Division 1 baseball,” he said. “August 1st came around last year, and a few JUCO’s called and a few D1’s called, but it was pretty slow for the most part. The new year hit, and then I got a few JUCO offers and I was very thankful and very blessed to receive those. But, I feel like I was never satisfied. Put a good swing on a ball, right place, right time and I feel like that definitely put me on the map for a few D1’s to be like, ‘OK, well this kid has got something here,’ and I feel like Rice wss definitely a great landing spot for me both academically and athletically and is definitely a spot where I want to be.”
Before he gets there, however, it’ll be the Main Event in Minnesota. Another chance to show what he can do on a big stage. As you may have gathered by now, it’s something he isn’t shying away from.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “Really excited, think about it every day. Definitely very fortunate and blessed for Coach Booth and that whole Future Stars organization. It’s going to be awesome to share the field with some really talented 27’s and some like-minded baseball players, and it’s going to be fun. Definitely looking forward to playing with (Jordan) “Porkchop” Albarado and (Jax) Van Valkenburg, the two other catchers in that room, CJ Wall (too) and then looking forward to facing some high-level arms. One of my teammates is going to be there as well (Casen Reedy) so that should be fun, recently committed to Texas A&M and an absolute stud.”
What’s he looking to show the dozens of big league scouts and execs expected to be on hand on that big stage?
“Definitely looking to show who I am as a player, stay within myself,” Williams said. “That’s something I tell myself before every game. Be thankful for the opportunity, but go out there and compete, don’t let up. Even though it’s a national event, have some fun with it and take a deep breath and do damage in the box, control the game behind the plate — I try to manage the game and be a leader, work for my pitchers — and do the best I can to help my team win.”
About New Balance Future Stars Series
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Since 2003, he has six World Series and has worked high-profile events ranging from the MLB All-Star Game to the World Baseball Classic. In addition to his role working for the Future Stars Series that he's held since 2017, Ashmore currently serves as the beat writer of the Double-A New York Yankees affiliate, the Somerset Patriots, as well as national hockey writer and New York Jets game day beat reporter for The Trentonian.
A regular contributor to Baseball America, Ashmore has worked eight Super Bowls, 13 Stanley Cup Finals, the 4 Nations Face-Off, the NBA Playoffs, the NCAA D1 Men's Basketball Tournament, College Football Playoff National Championship Game, Frozen Four, Daytona 500, major UFC events and much more as he approaches 3,300 games covered in his career.
An avid trading card enthusiast and motorsports fan, he lives with his wife, Sarah, their son, future No. 1 overall draft pick in 2042, William, their beloved dog, Bailey, and occasionally well-behaved cat, Smokey.
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