Mets prospect Jett Williams willing to play any position: 'Whatever gets me to the big leagues the fastest'
Top Mets prospect Jett Williams, at his first major league spring training, said he has "the big goals in mind." But he's not getting too far ahead of himself.
The 20-year-old tore through three levels of the minors last season and finished the year with a small taste of Double-A Binghamton, where he will begin this season.
And after the on-base machine hit .263/.425/.451 with 13 homers, 22 doubles, eight triples, and 45 steals in 121 games in 2023, Williams spent his offseason working -- on exit velocity, bat speed, and defense.
"Just a little exit velo and bat speed, and just some shortstop things," Williams told reporters Friday at Mets camp. "Bat speed and exit velo to the opposite field.
"I think I hit to all parts of the field pretty well -- just wanting to increase the exit velo to the opposite field. And then just staying low at shortstop and working on throwing mechanics."
Williams has been at spring training for over a week, and has spent some time working with Francisco Lindor.
Of course, with Lindor under contract for the better part of the next decade, Williams -- a natural shortstop -- is blocked there at the big league level.
The above is why Williams started to get a taste of center field last season, and why he'll likely be sprinkled in at different infield spots in 2024 as he nears his major league debut.
As far as where he plays in the majors, all that matters to Williams is that it gives him the quickest path to get there.
"I don't really care," he explained. "Just whatever gets me to the big leagues the fastest. I think that wherever they want to put me, I'll play.
"If they want to put me at third, short, second, center, left. I'll play anything. As long as I'm in the big leagues the fastest."
