Big Train's Williamson Taking League by Storm

By Tim Wilcox

As a 13-year-old, Andrew Williamson faced players that were 18. Williamson started for Northside Christian High School (Fla.) varsity baseball in eighth grade.

“It definitely helped me out a lot,” Williamson said. “Being able to learn from those older guys and practice with those guys, [play in] that level of intensity and being able to play in the district tournament [helped me].”

Although Williamson called the experience “nerve-racking” at times, it offered a chance to play a higher level of competition. Five years later as a freshman at Central Florida, Williamson was ready to face older players again. As an 18-year-old this spring, he started in 42 games and hit .258 with a .333 OBP and 12 extra-base hits. In the outfield, Williamson recorded a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 99 putouts.

Throughout the season, Williamson leaned on older teammates to discuss approaches and was quick to learn adjustments prior to his next at-bat. In late May, the Knights earned a spot in the NCAA Regionals, and Williamson wasted no time showing his talent on the big stage.

“The intensity was very high, the stakes were high, [it was] definitely the most eyeballs I ever had on me before playing,” Williamson said.

In the first game against Alabama, he blasted a two-run home run to lead UCF to an 8-7 win. It was the program's first long ball from a freshman in an NCAA Tournament game since 2017.

After his first collegiate season, Williamson joined the Bethesda Big Train for the summer. In his first week, he collected three multi-hit games and 7 RBI to earn Cal Ripken Sr. League Hitter of the Week. Despite arriving in the league a week into the season, Williamson caught up to top hitters. Now, he leads the CRSCBL with a 1.325 OPS and ranks second in batting average (.409), home runs (7) and RBI (26), which earned him All-Star recognition.

When Bethesda’s associate head coach Galvin Morris first met Williamson, he was struck by his “older mentality.” Morris, now in his eighth season with the Big Train, said Williamson reminded him of former CRSCBL Most Outstanding Player Alec Burleson (Big Train, 2018), who now patrols the outfield for the St. Louis Cardinals.

“When [Burleson] stepped between the lines, he was a different player,” Morris said. “When [Williamson] steps between the lines, he’s a different player as well. He's all business when he puts that uniform on.”

Williamson’s success at the plate starts in the batting cage. He looks to square every ball up, and when he doesn’t, he self-corrects, Morris said.

“He's one of those guys that makes adjustments pitch by pitch instead of at-bat by at-bat,” Morris said. “That's what kind of separates him right now from some of the guys that are not swinging as well.”

Williamson learned some of his baseball techniques from his uncle, Sean Rodriguez, who played Major League Baseball for 13 seasons (2008-2020). Rodriguez, who slugged 81 career home runs, has been a mentor to Williamson, someone he can ask “questions about really anything.”

While his bat has stolen the show in Bethesda this summer, Williamson is focused on improving other parts of his game as well: bunting, stealing bases, and making good reads in center field.

“[I’ve been] able to craft many aspects of the game, not just the things that most people will look at,” Williamson said. “[I’m] trying to become versatile in many ways.”

William celebrated his 19th birthday on July 11. As he continues to play at an exceptional level, Morris said his Big Train teammates have noticed his approach. Led by his strong play offensively and defensively, Bethesda has won five of their last six games, moving up in the playoff race.

“Some of the things that he does and brings to the yard is starting to rub off on the other guys in our dugout and I think it's making us a better baseball team,” Morris said.