Williams 'in a good spot' after scoreless Cactus League debut

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Gavin Williams has time to bring back the real heat. His moderate heat looked plenty strong anyway on Wednesday.

The Guardians’ righty put more distance between himself and his injury-interrupted 2024 with a sparkling Spring Training debut in Goodyear. Williams threw 26 of 34 pitches for strikes, never got behind any batter more than 1-0, struck out three in two innings, and consistently hit 96 and 97 mph with his fastball in Cleveland’s 7-4 loss to the Rangers at Goodyear Ballpark.

Sure, he hit 100 mph on the gun this past August, the first time a Guardians starter reached triple digits in the Statcast Era (2015). But he spent the offseason adjusting his delivery mechanics to further get back to form after elbow inflammation in his throwing arm crept up last spring and wiped out the first half of his season.

Things were different Wednesday.

“Felt like it was very easy,” Williams said after his outing. “I felt like I could probably go a little bit higher [on velocity], but I think I’m in a good spot right now. I think I’m gonna keep it right there for now.”

Williams made two Cactus League starts in 2024 before experiencing elbow discomfort during weighted ball drills. That led to the injured list, which became the 60-day IL, which by May became a rehab assignment in Triple-A Columbus, a rehab assignment in Double-A Akron and, ultimately, back to Columbus.

He made his first start of the regular season in July and made 16 starts in the second half. And three weeks after his return, he tossed a career-high 105 pitches in a quality start with a season-high nine strikeouts. Williams also started Game 4 of the ALCS.

But the 2021 first-round Draft pick wasn’t able to get back to “his normal stuff,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Wednesday. Williams spent the offseason dedicated to work on his fastball, and this spring he has physical therapy three times a week with strengthening exercises for his elbow and triceps.

Beyond strengthening, Williams has been tweaking his delivery itself with a focus on standing taller on his back leg.

“I was getting a little too deep in it. I wasn’t able to get down the mound. I was basically coming out of it and spinning off on my back foot and creating bad pitch movements really,” Williams said. “Getting too deep in the back leg creates sinkers for me, and that’s not good. Definitely not good for me.”

If Wednesday is any indication, it’s working.

“I thought Gavin looked really sharp,” Vogt said. “Velocity obviously is there but the movement looked like what it used to and looked like it had some good vertical movement to it. He executed some breaking balls, but he’s attacking the strike zone and going right after them. Really good day for Gavin.”

And his elbow itself? That’s good, too.

“My elbow is feeling great,” Williams said. “It’s a lot better than last year.”

Coming back mentally from the injury is another box checked so far.

“Confidence is high,” Williams added. “I’m learning to slow the game down. I’m not trying to think about the negatives too much and think more about the positives and write those down throughout my day.”

Elsewhere in the dugout, Guardians fans got a glimpse Tuesday of Travis Bazzana, MLB’s No. 1 Draft pick from last summer and the first top overall pick in Cleveland franchise history. Entering the game in the sixth inning, the Australian prospect drew two walks then hit a towering, 433-foot first-pitch home run in the ninth.

The left-hander is a member of the Guardians’ “depth camp” roster and his early progressions will continue in Arizona. He figures to get playing time every couple of days, Vogt said Wednesday.

“We don’t want to interrupt his buildup for his season,” the manager said of his young second baseman. “It was fun to see Travis’ at-bats. His defense has really stood out to me. I mean the home run’s fun, but the defensive side has been really what stood out to me for Travis.”