Cleveland selects Gavin Williams with the 23rd pick of the 2021 MLB Draft

With the 23rd overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, Cleveland has selected Gavin Williams, a pitcher out of East Carolina University.

The reliever turned starter has a mean fastball that consistently tops out at 97 MPH but has been known to hit triple digits. He’s also done some serious work on his curveball, closing up the spin and commanding more from the pitch. Standing at an imposing 6’6’’ frame, he gains a lot of power from his leg kick and over-the-top release point. After recording a 1.48 ERA with 98 strikeouts over 61 innings in the regular season, it’s easy to see why he’s appealing for a middle of the rotation starter role.

There’s no question about Williams’ durability on the mound, but there are some questions about his ability to add more pitches to his rotation, including adding more to his slider. His velocity also drops off when he gets to the lesser pitches in his arsenal. If he can even out and add some control to the tail end of his repertoire, he’ll be a force throughout the minors.