Ben Williamson’s baseball journey hasn’t been easy. As a top-15 prospect in the Seattle Mariners’ organization, he debuted in 2025 when the Mariners made a run to the ALCS. Despite struggling offensively, he compiled 1.3 WAR in 85 games that season thanks to good defense at third base.
However, in February, the team traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays after one big-league season to acquire infielder Brendan Donovan. The move was sudden, especially considering Williamson looked to be the Mariners’ third baseman of the future. However, it gave the former second-round pick a chance to play in a low-stakes environment, with the Rays projected to miss the playoffs for the third straight season.
Unfortunately for Williamson, that didn’t happen. Despite low expectations, the Rays won their third American League pennant and first since 2020. While Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Caminero had big offensive seasons, Williamson posted a measly .620 OPS in 88 contests. He also compiled a fielding run value of -4, a concerning mark for someone known for his defense.
In the postseason, Williamson’s struggles continued. Before Tuesday’s World Series contest, the Virginia native was 1-for-15 through seven games played. However, in Game Four, everything changed. Despite his offensive shortcomings, manager Kevin Cash pinch-hit Williamson for Ryan Vilade in the bottom of the 12th inning. With the bases loaded and the game tied, the 25-year-old swung at the first pitch and grounded it through the infield. His base hit scored Nick Fortes, giving the Rays a 4–3 walk-off victory and keeping their World Series dreams alive.
“He wasn’t waiting around,” said Cash postgame. “We’ll take any hit we can get right there.”
The Beauty of Postseason Baseball
Despite being an unlikely hero, Williamson isn’t the first of his kind. From Travis Ishikawa to Rajai Davis to Miguel Rojas, October baseball has routinely been shaped by the players everyone else counted out.
Of course, the game’s greats have always had their moments. Take, for example, the 2025 postseason. One week after three-time MVP Aaron Judge hit a game-tying, three-run home run facing elimination, four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani hit three home runs in the same game he threw six scoreless innings. The following week, former World Series MVP George Springer hit a go-ahead three-run home run in Game Seven of the ALCS to send the Toronto Blue Jays to the Fall Classic.
Three iconic players. Three iconic games. However, at the end of the day, it’s players like Williamson who make the postseason what it is.
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