Brewers' Williams and Sproat Eager to Make Impact After Arrival in Peralta Trade
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Less than a week after joining the Milwaukee Brewers, Jett Williams has already formed a positive impression of his new team.
"A group of short, scrappy players -- similar to myself," the 5-foot-7 infielder/outfielder remarked.
Williams and right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat spoke to Brewers reporters via Zoom on Monday, five days after Milwaukee acquired them in a trade that sent two-time All-Star pitcher Freddy Peralta and right-hander Tobias Myers to the New York Mets.
This marks the third consecutive year the Brewers have traded away an All-Star pitcher with one year remaining on their contract. They are optimistic that Williams and Sproat can provide a similar return to the deals that sent 2021 Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes to Baltimore and two-time NL reliever of the year Devin Williams to the New York Yankees.
The left side of Milwaukee's infield last season came from those trades. Shortstop Joey Ortiz arrived from Baltimore along with left-handed pitcher DL Hall. Caleb Durbin, the only remaining player from the Devin Williams trade, finished third in the NL rookie of the year voting last season.
Sproat and Williams are eager to make a similar impact with the Brewers, who reached the NL Championship Series last season after winning a third straight NL Central title.
"The way they play the game is similar to how I play," Williams said. "I play really hard every day, and their ultimate goal is to win, which they are pretty good at."
Milwaukee paid a significant price to acquire Sproat and Williams. Peralta had a 17-6 record with a 2.70 earned run average, finishing fifth in the Cy Young Award balloting last season. Myers had a combined 10-8 record with a 3.15 ERA in two seasons with the Brewers.
However, the Brewers gained two promising players who could play significant roles in the organization's immediate future. MLB.com's list of baseball's top 100 prospects last week ranked Williams at No. 51 and Sproat at No. 100.
Sproat, 24, earned a late-season promotion last year and was 0-2 with a 4.79 ERA in four starts with the Mets. He believes his experience will benefit him as he competes for a starting rotation spot with his new team, with Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold calling him "major league ready."
"I have an idea of what it's going to be like," Sproat said. "I'm not saying I'm used to it, but I have an idea."
Williams, 22, has not yet reached the majors but hit .261 with a .363 on-base percentage, 17 homers, 52 RBIs, and 34 steals in 130 games with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse in the Mets organization last year after wrist surgery kept him out for much of the 2024 season.
Williams has played shortstop, second base, and center field in the minors, providing the Brewers with multiple options as they decide his position.
"Right now, I'm at shortstop, but anything can change," Williams said. "I'll play wherever they want me."
Arnold praised Williams' versatility and speed, expressing enthusiasm for the 5-7 sparkplug's potential fit in the lineup alongside 5-7 Durbin and 5-8 outfielder Sal Frelick.
"It's going to be a good fit," Williams said.
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