BRADENTON, Fla. – The Pittsburgh Pirates are down to two non-roster invitees among their position player group in big league camp, and it just so happens they play the same position.
Alika Williams is a locker mate of Konnor Griffin in the home clubhouse at LECOM Park, so he’s had an up-close look at baseball’s consensus top prospect on the field at shortstop and behind the scenes as the 19-year-old has conducted countless interviews this spring.
“It’s very impressive,” Williams told TribLive. “I was talking with (Jared) Triolo about what we were doing when we were 19, and it’s not what KG has been able to do. I’ve been picking his brain about a lot of things. Last spring, he came in and was asking us for advice and we were like, ‘Dude, you’re fine. Just keep doing what you’re doing.’
“He’s a true professional. He’s ahead of his years in that sense, where all of the hype doesn’t seem to affect him. He loves baseball. It’s very obvious. And he loves to compete. That’s where all his focus is. He wants to be the best, and he wants to bring winning baseball back to the Pirates. It’s cool to see.”
A 2020 first-round pick out of Arizona State by the Tampa Bay Rays, the 27-year-old Williams is regarded as a trusted middle infield defender but has batted .202 in 83 major league games with the Pirates. He was designated for assignment in February 2025 and released in January before signing a minor league contract.
After making the Opening Day roster in 2024, Williams spent the entire season at Triple-A Indianapolis last year. As he longed to be back in the big leagues, it affected his performance early in the season. So he adjusted his attitude and is displaying more gratitude.
“That was one of the biggest lessons I learned last year,” Williams said. “Everything that happened last year, with the DFA and not being on the 40-man anymore, the first part of the season I really wanted to be in the big leagues, as we all do. A big part of my focus was on that and I struggled. I didn’t perform like I know how I can perform.
“I’m really grateful to be in this locker room right now. That’s another thing I learned: You never know when your last day is playing this game. So I’m really treating it like every day is my last day. I’m not looking too far into the future, and I’m not looking at roster construction and stuff like that.”
Williams is amazed by what he’s seen from Griffin, especially how the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder has adjusted to playing shortstop after spending last spring training in center field. Williams has been impressed by how Griffin isn’t allowing many balls to get past him deep in the hole.
“He’s a freak athlete, as we’ve all seen,” Williams said. “That athleticism just helps him get into positions that a lot of us can’t even imagine getting into. His first step is incredible. Obviously, the arm strength is off the charts. It comes down to that first step. He gets to balls that a lot of us are diving for. If you watch him field a ground ball then watch me, it’s just different. He’s got this spring in his step. I don’t know how to explain it; whereas some of the infielders, it’s like gas, brake, slow down and make the throw. He’s on the run and he’s making crazy throws and it’s very impressive to watch.”
Yet Williams is competing with Griffin for a spot on the Opening Day roster. Where Griffin is slugging .588 and leads the Pirates with four home runs and nine RBIs, he’s batting only .206 (7 for 34) and has 10 strikeouts without a walk in 13 Grapefruit League games. Williams has a .259/.355/.407 slash line with one double, one home run and five RBIs and as many walks (five) as strikeouts in 16 games.
“Obviously, we want to see results,” Williams said. “I’ve been really happy with the at-bats, pitch selection and not chasing as much. That’s something I can control. I feel like that’s been awesome so far this spring – swinging at good pitches, getting into good counts and being able to get the heater and put a good swing on it.”
Where Williams might have an advantage is that the Pirates know they can trust his glove at second base, shortstop and even third base. Williams also is showing that he can provide professional at-bats without needing to play every day.
If the Pirates opt to start Nick Gonzales or Jared Triolo at shortstop and have Griffin begin the season at Triple-A Indianapolis, Williams could have an edge on Tyler Callihan and Nick Yorke for the super utility role because of his ability to play both middle infield positions.
“The depth is huge, especially the way that he can play defense up the middle,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “There’s not a lot of guys that can play D like him. He’s been having a good at-bats, too.”
Either way, keeping Griffin or Williams would require a 40-man roster move. Williams is well aware of the hype surrounding Griffin and how important he is to the organization’s future.
“It’s not weird at all,” Williams said. “I know what my role is here and what his potential role could be. People are comparing him to Bobby Witt and Fernando Tatis. That’s some serious talent. Whenever he does get up, he’s going to make a huge impact on the Pirates. When he’s up, he’s going to be great.”