Noah Williams is well accustomed to playing summer baseball in Southern California. The Carson, California native attended Redondo Union High School and tore up the diamond every chance he got. 

In addition to being named a Second-Team High School All-American after his senior year, Williams was also the Bay League Offensive Player of the Year and posted an astonishing .364 batting average during his time at Redondo Union. To cap off a stellar high school career, Williams was named by SB Live CA as the best outfielder in California’s prestigious Southern Section.  

His eye-opening high school tenure compelled the Atlanta Braves to draft Williams in the 18th round of the 2022 MLB Amateur Draft. The Saints’ outfielder touched on his transition from high school to the minor leagues. 

“The main difference is in high school, you’re having fun; the pro level is more mental,” mentioned Williams. “It is a business; it is mentally tough. You’re having fun but, at the same time, you are playing for a spot, for real; you are in a fight with one hundred-something guys a day.” 

The overwhelming size of minor league farm systems is definitely a challenge for everyone involved in said farm systems. Despite the aforementioned challenge, Williams did not let external pressure influence the effort he poured into achieving his dreams. He played for both the FCL Braves (Rookie Ball) and the Augusta GreenJackets (Single-A), recording 56 hits (3 HR), 28 RBIs and 9 SBs.  

During his time in the minors, Williams played with and interacted with various players who went on to Double-A, Triple-A and even the MLB.  

“It was very inspiring because [I got] to see how they [went] about their routine and what they do on the field,” said Williams regarding what he learned from his minor league peers. “I tried to learn from them so I can get better at my game.” 

In 2024, Williams was released by the Braves organization and embarked on a new journey: college baseball. Many do not make the jump from the minor leagues to the collegiate ranks; it can be very difficult. Williams’ transition was self-described as “a rocky road.” 

After the growing pains, Williams found his footing at Colorado State University Pueblo. He batted .374 in his first year (officially his sophomore year because of eligibility rules) in Pueblo, Colorado. Williams also pounded 11 HRs and 51 RBIs to go along with 24 SBs. The CSU Pueblo rising junior reflected on his first year of collegiate baseball.  

“I [had a great experience] with a lot of teammates that made me feel like I was at home, like a brotherhood,” emphasized Williams. “I think a lot of players [at CSU Pueblo} are really special. Honestly [our team] is like a brotherhood, [we’re] like a family.” 

As this summer rolled around, Williams grappled with the task of choosing a team to play for. One of his assistant coaches referred him to the Arroyo Seco Saints he is grateful for “the opportunity to be out [in Pasadena] and get more playing time [and] get better.” 

Williams compared his time with the Saints so far to pro ball. The almost-daily schedule is taxing for a young up-and-comer like Williams. Luckily, his time in the minor leagues taught him a thing or two about physical and mental maintenance. Williams shared that he is adamant about medical treatment in order to stay in tip-top shape and journals in an effort to stay on top of his goals and plan for his future. 

“I feel like I am just like everybody else, [I am] trying to be in the same grind and strive for greatness,” said Williams about his mentality this summer. “[I want to] get to the top, the pro level. The reality now is I am just not there. Everybody around me is a great player.” 

In Williams’ first three games, his head-down mentality has been on full display. He hit a towering three-run blast in the Saints’ second game and has tallied five RBIs so far this summer. 

In the dugout, Williams enjoys interacting with his Saints teammates, sharing that both he and his peers are all in Pasadena to get better and advance their careers. 

The Saints’ outfielder also shared his goals for the summer: gain 15 pounds, get stronger, get better defensively (despite his 95.4 fielding percentage this past season at CSU Pueblo) and become more disciplined at the plate. 

Williams’ constant thirst to improve on a day-to-day basis is a driving force in both his on-field and off-field life. Baseball is a game of failure and disappointment, but Williams plans to stay on top of his game and performance. He also is determined to remain at the forefront of the Saints’ success this summer, hoping to carry some positive momentum into his junior year at CSU Pueblo. 

Contributors:

• Saints Reporter Tyler Bowne (San Diego State)
• Graphic by Saints Reporter Taylor Dowdy (Arizona)