{"id":589383,"date":"2026-02-24T03:15:49","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T03:15:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/589383\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T03:15:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T03:15:49","slug":"familiar-face-may-surprise-pirates-fans-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/589383\/","title":{"rendered":"Familiar Face May Surprise Pirates Fans Again"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pittsburgh Pirates non-roster spring training invitee Alika Williams<\/a> seemingly has more baseball lives than a cat. Williams didn\u2019t play in the major leagues in 2025 and was released by the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians on January 16. That seemed to be the end of his time with Pittsburgh. However, on February 3, the Pirates invited<\/a> him to the major league spring training as a non-roster player.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s early in spring training, of course, but it\u2019s noteworthy that manager Don Kelly<\/a> is giving him some run in the exhibition games. On Sunday in Bradenton, he started at shortstop against the Tampa Bay Rays, going hitless in three at-bats. On Monday against the New York Yankees, he started at third base, where he\u2019s never played in the majors, and went 1-for-2 with a double. To borrow a phrase from the late Marvin Gaye, what\u2019s going on?<\/p>\n

? Pirates Alika Williams smashes double off Yankees Jasson Dom\u00ednguez<\/a>, momentum spark \u26a0\ufe0f Yankees Ryan Yarbrough<\/a> punished for loose pitch, Pirates threatening despite two outs now! #MLB<\/a> #RepBX<\/a> #LetsGoBucs<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 SportsNova (@SportsNova36) February 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Pirates Looking at Alika Williams. . . Again
\nWhy He Just Might Make It<\/p>\n

In evaluating whether the right-handed-hitting Williams, soon to turn 28, has a legitimate chance to go north with the club, consider the following. Despite a flurry of offseason moves<\/a>, Pirates general manager did nothing to improve the left side of the infield. They\u2019re giving 19-year-old Konnor Griffin<\/a>, Major League Baseball\u2019s No. 1 prospect<\/a>, an opportunity to win the shortstop job. As there seem to be no satisfactory alternatives, the Pirates appear to be betting all their chips on Griffin.<\/p>\n

But what if they decide that Griffin, who has yet to play above Double-A, needs more time in the minors? That leaves Nick Gonzales<\/a> as the projected starting shortstop. Gonzales was a shortstop at New Mexico State when the Pirates drafted him in 2020. The Pirates moved him to second base immediately. In three major-league seasons, he\u2019s played 30 games at shortstop, where he gets poor marks.<\/p>\n

Some postulate that Gonzales or young Nick Yorke<\/a> could be moved to third base, with the projected everyday third baseman, Jared Triolo<\/a>, moving to shortstop. That\u2019s hard to envision. Triolo has played 56 major league games at shortstop and could probably handle it, but he\u2019s primarily a third baseman. Gonzales and Yorke have scant experience at third. An alignment that has either of them at third base and Triolo at shortstop would mean two players playing out of position.<\/p>\n

Finally, Williams has surprised us before. He faced long odds of making the team in 2024. However, when the Pirates decided Gonzales needed to start the season at Indy, there was Williams<\/a> on the Opening Day roster.<\/p>\n

Hitting Hasn\u2019t Translated Yet<\/p>\n

The Pirates acquired Williams from the Rays on June 2, 2023, in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Robert Stephenson<\/a>. Williams was a first-round draft pick (37th overall) in the 2020 June Amateur Draft out of the Arizona State University baseball factory. In the Rays\u2019 minor league system, he never hit well at the upper levels. He was hitting .237 at Double-A Montgomery when the Rays dealt him to the Pirates.<\/p>\n

Williams hit better with the Pirates\u2019 Triple-A team in Indianapolis, posting slash lines of .305\/.384\/.531 in 2023 and .311\/.384\/.396 in 2024. Those performances earned him promotions to the big time. However, in 83 games with Pittsburgh over 2023-24, he hit just .202\/.257\/.271. Primarily a shortstop, he also saw some action at second base. His defense was average but never an embarrassment. He spent all of 2025 with Indianapolis after being designated for assignment that February. There, he hit .268\/.329\/.393, 9 HR, and 42 RBI.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in 2023, Stephenson pitched in 42 games for the Rays, posting a 2.35 ERA and 0.678 WHIP, helping them reach Treasure Island as they won 99 games and a postseason berth as a wild card. He departed the Rays for free agency after the season. Despite having Stephenson for just a few months, the Rays got the better of this trade. So far.<\/p>\n

The Last Word<\/p>\n

If Williams is on the Opening Day roster, Pirates fans are sure to go berserk. To them, he\u2019d be a symbol of past failed acquisitions and offensive futility. There\u2019s still plenty of time for Cherington to make more moves before the season. But as things stand now, next to the talented Griffin, Williams may be the best natural shortstop on the club. He may not fit as a regular, but he\u2019d fit as a late defensive replacement. How much more run he\u2019s given in the upcoming exhibitions will be telling.<\/p>\n

Mandatory Photo Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n

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