WILLIAMS A SMASH HIT WITH NEW MANAGER’S RENTAL CAR

GALVESTON NATIVE Nick Williams is finding out that it’s not how you start Spring AS PLAYOFFS APPROACH
Training but how you finish.
The Philadelphia Phillies outfielder finally garnered his first hit of the month of March
when he singled in his first at-bat on Saturday. Williams had been hitless in 22 trips to
the plate since his last safety on February 26. He continued picking up steam on Monday
when he recorded a pair of hits off Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale to bring his batting
average up to .235.
Williams is assured a roster spot and is expected to start in the outfield for the Phillies
when they begin their 2018 regular season at the Atlanta Braves on March 29. Where in
the outfield is subject to debate as the team may have him rotating between center field
and right field with Odubel Herrera and Aaron Altherr.
Considered a key component in the franchise’s rebuilding process, Williams batted
.288 with 12 homers and 51 runs batted in over 83 games last season. He made a lasting
impression on new manager Gabe Kapler last month when he dented the roof of Kapler’s
rental car with a home run and almost repeated the feat the following day.
Assault on his rental aside, Kapler has been impressed with how Williams has looked
as a promising hitter.
“[Williams] is really shining,” Kapler said. “He just walks around with a perpetual smile.
But clearly our hitting coaches are enthused about the bat path, the way he lofts the ball
to the middle of the field. Some hitters, when they hit their best ball, it’s on the ground.
And Nick, when he makes his most solid contact, he has a nice loft to his swing. And in
the middle of the field, there are not many guys that can drive the ball like he can.”
Unfortunately, area fans won’t have a chance to see Williams and the Phillies make
an appearance in Texas this season as the team does not have neither the Astros nor
Rangers on their regular season schedule.
Williams may not be the only Galveston County native on the Phillies roster this season.
Relief pitcher Will Hibbs is on the major league radar after the Friendswood alum
recorded a combined 20 saves last year with two minor league teams in the Philadelphia
organization. Hibbs struck out 80 batters over 69 innings, holding them to a .163 batting
average.