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The Rays recalled Williams from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday and will have him start at shortstop in Thursday's season opener at St. Louis, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The injury to Taylor Walls (oblique) made Williams' call-up likely, and the Rays have now made it official. Williams had a solid showing this spring with a .779 OPS, one home run and one stolen base, though it came with a 1:7 BB:K. The 22-year-old has major swing-and-miss issues, but Williams could hit for enough power and steal enough bases to be a viable fantasy contributor even if he proves a drag in the batting-average category.
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Rays' Carson Williams: Could start Opening Day
Rotowire
Williams is back with the Rays in big-league camp Thursday and could begin the season as the club's primary shortstop since Taylor Walls is out with an oblique injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Williams was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday but is back in Tampa Bay's Grapefruit League lineup Thursday following Walls' injury, which has an undisclosed recovery timeline. The 22-year-old Williams is now the favorite to begin the season as the Rays' starting shortstop, though he still needs to be added back to the big-league roster. The club could consider some outside options, but it's a tight window to do so with Opening Day just one week away.
Rays' Carson Williams: Beginning season at Triple-A
Rotowire
The Rays optioned Williams to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Williams was competing with Taylor Walls at shortstop with the Rays, but instead Williams will begin the season at Triple-A. The 22-year-old got his first taste of the big leagues last season and posted a .573 OPS with five home runs, 12 RBI, 11 runs scored, two stolen bases and an ugly 6:44 BB:K across 106 plate appearances. Williams should be back in the majors at some point in 2026.
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Rays' Carson Williams: Pushing for roster spot
Rotowire
Williams went 2-for-3 in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers and is now 7-for-19 with an RBI this spring.
Williams, one of Tampa Bay's top prospects, closed out last season in the major leagues and is now trying to break Rays camp with an Opening Day roster spot. The 22-year-old infielder has hit safely in six of his eight Grapefruit League appearances so far, picking up a pair of doubles as well. He's competing primarily with the switch-hitting Taylor Walls, who has gone 5-for-12 with a home run and three RBI in four spring outings, for regular reps at shortstop, and Williams could still open the new year with Triple-A Durham if Gavin Lux (upper body) and Richie Palacios (back) are healthy.
Rays' Carson Williams: Goes deep in second straight
Rotowire
Williams went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Friday against the Red Sox.
Williams took Garrett Crochet deep for a solo home run in the fourth inning, his second long ball in as many games. He has struggled for long portions of his first stint in the majors, fueled primarily by a 36.7 percent strikeout rate across 79 plate appearances. However, Williams has a modest three-game hitting streak and has struck out only twice across his last 11 plate appearances.
Williams is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Blue Jays.
Williams had started each of the previous six games, but he'll begin Tuesday's festivities on the bench. Tristan Gray will play shortstop and bat seventh for the Rays.
Williams is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the White Sox.
Williams started the Rays' last game Sunday versus a lefty and hit a homer, but this marks the second straight time he's been out of the lineup against a right-hander. It's unlikely Williams will fall into the short side of a platoon, but it will be the left-handed-hitting Tristan Gray handling shortstop again Tuesday.
Williams is absent from the lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners.
Williams had started each of the previous eight tilts upon his promotion from Triple-A Durham, but he'll get a breather during Monday's series opener as he navigates through a 1-for-13 stretch at the plate. One big potential road block to Williams' playing time was cleared when Ha-Seong Kim (back) was claimed off waivers by Atlanta, increasing his chances at keeping an everyday role at shortstop even if he goes through a rough stretch at the plate. It will be Tristan Gray subbing in for Williams at shortstop Monday.
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Rays' Carson Williams: Ends hitless stretch
Rotowire
Williams went 1-for-2 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored Sunday against the Nationals.
Williams entered Sunday's game in a minor slump, going hitless in his last three starts while also striking out six times in 11 at-bats. He had a strong performance Sunday, however, drawing a bases-loaded walk before coming around to score in the second inning. Williams is hitting .250 with a home run, a stolen base, six RBI and five runs scored across his first eight big-league games.
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