Less than four years after collecting his college diploma, former William & Mary standout Ben Williamson finds himself on the cusp of baseball’s ultimate prize. The dependable infielder and high-contact hitter is in his second Major League Baseball season, preparing to play in the World Series as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays advanced to the Fall Classic by defeating the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series. They now face the Milwaukee Brewers in a best-of-seven championship series beginning Friday night at Milwaukee’s American Family Field, with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m.
“Ben is a phenomenal example of the hard work and drive to succeed that so many of our William & Mary players have,” Tribe baseball coach Rob 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. It goes without saying that we’re all huge Tampa Bay Rays fans because of Ben, and we’re rooting for them to win it all.”
Williamson, who graduated from William & Mary in 2023 with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a CAA Player of the Year honor, started three of the six games in the ALCS against Cleveland. He contributed two walks, two runs, and delivered one of the defensive highlights of the series while playing second base.
During Game 5, Williamson robbed seven-time All-Star José Ramírez of a base hit by making a diving stop to his right and firing a quick throw to nail the runner by a step at first base. The play earned a spot on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10 plays of the day.
“You want to talk about great defense, keeping a guy like Ramírez and his speed from getting on,” TNT color analyst Jeff Francoeur said during the broadcast. “Watch Williamson. Great play here. Watch how fast he gets up and throws it, knowing that he’s gotta be quick.”
Speed and efficiency have defined Williamson’s rapid ascent through professional baseball. In 2025, he became the 14th Tribe player to reach the Major Leagues. He is now on track to become the third player in university history to compete in the World Series, and the first since Vic Raschi pitched for the New York Yankees in 1953.
Williamson joins a select group of six William & Mary alumni to play in the MLB Postseason. That roster includes Raschi, who won six World Series titles with the Yankees; Bud Matheny, a World Series champion with the Yankees in 1943; Curtis Pride, who appeared in the 2004 ALDS with the Angels; Brendan Harris, who played in the 2009 ALDS with the Twins; and Bill Bray, who reached the 2010 NLDS with the Reds.
Selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 2023 draft, Williamson helped that franchise reach the ALCS last year. The Rays acquired him via trade in the offseason, positioning him for another deep postseason run that ultimately culminated in an American League pennant.
During his four seasons at Plumeri Park, Williamson batted .327/.428/.504 with 19 home runs, 89 RBI, 35 doubles, and 137 runs, earning first-team All-CAA honors in each of his final three campaigns. After reaching Double-A Arkansas in his first professional season in 2024, he ascended to the majors the following year, recording a hit and a run in his April 15 debut.
He finished his rookie campaign with 36 runs, 21 RBI, and five stolen bases before displaying increased power and speed during his sophomore season this year, tallying three home runs and eight steals across 88 games. He even saw action as a relief pitcher in a handful of contests, posting a 3.60 ERA over five innings of work.
