WILLIAMSBURG — Ben Williamson, a William & Mary Class of 2023 graduate, has set his sights on the big leagues.
Williamson, who began playing baseball in his yard with his dad at the age of two, loves being on the diamond. After years of hard work and dedication to the game of baseball, Williamson is entering the next phase of his life; pursuing an MLB career.
A star at Plumeri Park, Williamson suited up for the Tribe from 2020 to 2023. He is the first player in Tribe history to be named First Team All-CAA for three consecutive years. He is also the first Tribe player since 2014 to be named CAA Player of the Year.
On the national stage, Williamson ranked 38th in the country with a .390 batting average and 15th nationally with a .513 on base percentage.
As a young boy, Williamson fell in love with the sport. However, it didn’t hit him until years later that being a professional athlete might be his path.
“The moment that I realized that playing baseball professionally was an attainable goal was during my freshman or sophomore year of college. I was never a big kid growing up, but I grew into my body as I got older. It really sparked a lot of confidence in me that I could really put my head down and grind out a bunch of hard work to attain this dream,” Williamson said.
Taking the next step in his baseball career, Williamson is calling Hyannis, Massachusetts home this summer. Playing the infield for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League, Williamson is enjoying the support from the local Massachusetts community.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in the Cape Cod League. It gives me the ability to prove that I can play against the best competition there is. I hit the ground running as soon as I got here. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience. The people in the area take the league really seriously, so it’s awesome to be a part of that experience for the fans,” Williamson said.
The Cape Cod Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league that began in 1923. College players from around the nation are recruited to play during the 44-game season that runs in June, July, and August. Since its inception, more than 1,000 players have gone on to ultimately score Major League contracts.
Through his time in sports, Williamson has been able to see the power of hard work, but he also has learned to understand the importance of making sacrifices.
“Discipline and sacrifice is what it takes to really make it as a professional athlete. You have to sacrifice so many things as an athlete, particularly on the social side of things. On the discipline side, showing up on time, putting the work in, holding yourself accountable are so important,” Williamson said.
Entering into the Major League Baseball draft, beginning on Sunday July 9, Williamson is hopeful to have that dream moment of his name being called. He has no preference of team, he just wants the opportunity to continue to do what he loves.
“I think that I’ve put myself in the best position possible with the season, with all the stuff I did in the off season, and going up to the cape and performing a little bit. I’m hopeful, but I also know that people have been passed on in the draft that felt that they should have been selected. The opportunity to play professional baseball would be enough for me. Any team that I could potentially sign for would be a true dream come true. All I want is the opportunity to play,” Williamson said.
Each time he takes the field, he is aware of all the eyes on him, particularly those of the young boys and girls who attend Harbor Hawks games. It is not lost on him that he is a mentor to the next generation. He often talks to kids about how important it is to have a clear goal.
“Find out what you love doing and don’t really deviate from that. There are going to be distractions, but if you are dedicated, you can focus on the end goal and you can achieve it,” Williamson said.
Should the draft not go in his favor, Williamson is planning on returning to William & Mary to continue his studies towards his Masters of Science in Business Analytics while using his fifth year of eligibility for one more season with the Tribe.