Did Ben Williamson Really Improve as the Season Progressed?

This article takes a closer look at Seattle Mariners third baseman Ben Williamson. His rise was fast, his offense has been bumpy, and his future is still up for debate.

Williamson’s defense at third base turns heads. His hands move fast, and his instincts seem almost too good for his age. Seattle leaned on that, hoping the bat would catch up and fill an everyday role.

But his rookie year in 2025, with a line of .253/.294/.310, showed how tough the jump really is. He made decent contact and flashed some power, but his approach at the plate tripped him up from the start.

Early Plate Discipline Problems

Big-league pitching put Williamson in a bind. Sometimes he chased pitches way out of the zone, yet he’d let good ones go by right down the middle.

He ended up with a 3.1% walk rate, which ranked among the lowest for regulars. Still, not all hope was lost. His dynamic hard-hit rate (DHH%) suggested there was more power in the tank. Hard-hit and barrel rates hovered near league average, so better swing decisions could unlock more.

Adjustments, Counters, and a Midseason Collapse

Williamson did make some changes as the season wore on. He cut back on swings in the shadow zone, drew a few more walks, and struck out less often.

His wRC+ climbed from 62 to 83. That’s progress, even if it’s not enough.

The Book Gets Out

Pitchers noticed. They started pounding him with pitches that broke sideways—changeups, sweepers, anything with horizontal movement.

He kept chasing those, and his ability to drive the ball just fell off a cliff. After May 15, the numbers got ugly:

He lost his extra-base threat and became easier to defend. Seattle sent him back to Triple-A Tacoma.

Triple-A Rebound and What It Means

Back in Tacoma, Williamson bounced back. Over the last two months, he posted a strong 135 wRC+ and showed better control of the strike zone.

He improved both his walk and strikeout rates. Still, even in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, his barrel rate and launch angle stayed low. The sample was small, but he chased and whiffed less against changeups and sweepers—though it’s hard to say if that’ll stick long-term.

Defense Keeps the Floor High

Williamson’s glove sets him apart. When Seattle sent him down, he led AL third basemen in Defensive Runs Saved and ranked sixth overall, despite not playing a full slate.

That kind of defense keeps you in the lineup, even if the bat needs work. For a team chasing wins, having a third baseman who saves runs is no small thing.

Final Outlook: Everyday Regular or Valuable Complement?

If Williamson’s Triple-A plate-discipline gains stick, he could become an above-average everyday player. The raw power indicators hint at more upside, especially if he starts lifting the ball with authority.

If those adjustments don’t hold up, his glove alone probably makes him a 1–4 WAR, defense-first third baseman. That’s still a solid option for competitive teams.

 
Here is the source article for this story: 40 in 40: Ben Williamson got better results as the season progressed—but did he actually get better?