Ben Williamson is on the brink of his first World Series appearance after the Tampa Bay Rays clinched the American League Championship Series and moved on to the Fall Classic. For a player in just his second Major League Baseball season, it is a remarkable rise — and one that could put him in some rare company for William & Mary.
Williamson started three of the six ALCS games and helped the Rays close out the Cleveland Guardians, including a key defensive moment in Game 5 when he robbed José Ramírez of a base hit with a diving stop and throwout. In a series decided on fine margins, that kind of play mattered just as much as any timely hit.
A dependable glove and a growing role
Williamson has built his reputation as a dependable glove man and a high-contact hitter, and that profile fits the way the Rays have used him. He was acquired in the offseason after the Mariners drafted him in 2023, and he has already become part of a postseason run that now stretches to the World Series.
As Rob McCoy put it, Williamson is “a phenomenal example of the hard work and drive to succeed” shown by William & Mary players. McCoy also pointed to his development at Plumeri Park and said the program has remained behind him during this next phase of his career. The support is clearly mutual: McCoy added that everyone connected with the school is rooting for the Rays to win it all.
Rare company for William & Mary
The significance goes beyond one player’s breakout. Williamson became the 14th Tribe player to reach the Major Leagues in 2025, and if he appears in the World Series he would become only the third William & Mary alumnus to do so. The last to reach that stage was Vic Raschi, who pitched for the New York Yankees in 1953.
That history matters because it shows just how unusual this opportunity is. William & Mary was also featured on Forbes’ most recent list of 15 Top Colleges For Launching Your Career, and Williamson’s path offers a clean example of why.
What comes next for the Rays
The Rays are scheduled to open the best-of-seven World Series at Milwaukee’s American Family Field at 8 p.m. Friday night, with Williamson now in position to make his first Fall Classic appearance. If he plays, it would be the latest step in a season that has already taken him from reliable contributor to potential World Series participant.
Jeff Francoeur summed up the value of the defensive moment in Game 5: “You want to talk about great defense, keeping a guy like Ramírez and his speed (from getting on),” he said, before adding, “Watch Williamson. Great play here. Watch how fast he gets up and throws it, knowing that he’s gotta be quick.” That quickness may be part of what carries him onto baseball’s biggest stage.
