From William & Mary to the World Series: Ben Williamson’s Rapid Rise to MLB’s Pinnacle
Ben Williamson didn’t waste any time making his mark. Less than four years after graduating from William & Mary, the dependable second baseman and high-contact hitter is now in his second Major League Baseball season and on the brink of playing in the World Series for the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays secured their spot by defeating the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series, and they’re set to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the championship series starting Friday night.
William & Mary’s baseball coach, Rob McCoy, couldn’t be prouder. ‘Ben is a phenomenal example of the hard work and drive to succeed that so many of our William & Mary players have,’ McCoy said. ‘His development as a big-league player included a stellar tenure here at Plumeri Park, and he’s been a wealth of support to our program during this next phase of his career. We’re all huge Tampa Bay Rays fans because of Ben, and we’re rooting for them to win it all.’
Williamson, who graduated in 2023 with a CAA Player of the Year award and a Bachelor of Business Administration, played a key role in the ALCS. He started three of the six games, contributing two walks, two runs, and a highlight-reel defensive play. In Game 5, he made a diving stab to rob seven-time All-Star José Ramírez of a base hit, throwing him out at first base with speed to spare. The play was so impressive it made ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10.
TNT analyst Jeff Francoeur praised the play on air: ‘You want to talk about great defense, keeping a guy like Ramírez and his speed from getting on? Watch Williamson. Great play here. Watch how fast he gets up and throws it, knowing that he’s gotta be quick.’
Williamson’s quick ascent is no surprise. In 2025, he became the 14th Tribe player to reach the majors, and he’s on track to be the third William & Mary alum to play in the World Series, the first since Vic Raschi in 1953. He’ll join an elite group of postseason players from the university, including Raschi, Bud Matheny, Curtis Pride, Brendan Harris, and Bill Bray.
Last year, Williamson helped the Seattle Mariners reach the ALCS before being traded to the Rays in the offseason. This time, he’s headed all the way to the World Series. During his four seasons at William & Mary, he batted .327 with a .428 on-base percentage and .504 slugging, along with 19 home runs, 89 RBIs, 35 doubles, and 137 runs. He was named first-team All-CAA in each of his final three years.
He reached Double-A in 2024 and made his MLB debut on April 15, 2025, with a hit and a run. In his rookie year, he tallied 36 runs, 21 RBIs, and five stolen bases. This season, he’s shown more power and speed with three home runs and eight steals in 88 games. Williamson even pitched in a few games, posting a 3.60 ERA over five innings.
Ben Williamson is another shining example of a William & Mary alumnus excelling at the top of his field shortly after graduation.
