Henry Williams

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #30 prospect in 2026
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Average
  
  Adjusted Grade: 30
  
  Track Record: Williams pitched just 37 innings in his first two seasons at Duke, then had Tommy John surgery before his junior season, but that didn’t dissuade the Padres from taking the big righthander in the third round of the 2022 draft. The Royals acquired him at the 2023 trade deadline in a deal for Scott Barlow, and Williams has slowly traversed Kansas City’s system since then. He spent the bulk of his age-23 season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, where he posted a serviceable 21.6% strikeout rate and a career-best 7.8% walk rate.
  
  Scouting Report: Williams is an effective strike-thrower with a solid four-pitch arsenal and above-average command. His 92 mph four-seamer touches 95 with life and his command helps the fringe-average pitch play up. His best pitch is a big 78-80 mph curveball which he consistently lands for strikes. He throws a short, tight mid-80s gyro slider that complements the curveball. He rounds out his arsenal with feel for an average 86-89 mph changeup. With a simple, repeatable three-quarters delivery, Williams gets plus extension that helped generate above-average chase rates across his arsenal in 2025.
  
  The Future: His profile isn’t sexy, but Williams has the look of a dependable back-of-the-rotation option with a high probability of reaching that floor because he commands all four of his pitches.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55
• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #29 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Williams was regarded as a potential high draft pick entering his junior year at Duke prior to having Tommy John surgery. That didn’t scare the Padres, who signed Williams to an over-slot $800,000 as a third-rounder in 2022--the same year they took Dylan Lesko, another righty dealing with elbow surgery, in the first round. Williams returned to the mound late in 2023 spring training and debuted with Low-A Lake Elsinore in May. The Royals acquired him at the trade deadline for closer Scott Barlow.
  
  Scouting Report: Williams’ fastball settled into the 92-94 mph range after the injury, which is a tick below the 94-98 range he displayed as an amateur. He has a clean delivery with good arm action from a three-quarters slot. He also has a short, tight low-80s gyro slider that has plus potential and he shows the ability to command an average mid-80s changeup. Williams can throw every pitch in his arsenal for strikes, and there’s hope more velocity returns as he gets some distance from his surgery.
  
  The Future: After finishing the 2023 season on a high note, Williams will be ready to move up at least another level in 2024. His most likely landing spot is High-A Quad Cities. Williams projects as a durable back-of-the-rotation starter.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #15 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The Padres scouted Williams at Darien (Conn.) High and kept tabs on him as he made his way to Duke. He pitched just 37.2 innings in his college career before having Tommy John surgery, but the Padres saw enough in that limited stint to draft him in the third round, No. 91 overall, and sign him for an above-slot $800,000 signing bonus. Williams continued rehabbing after being selected and did not pitch in live games, but he flew out to the Padres' complex in Arizona every other weekend to throw bullpens while continuing to work toward his degree at Duke.
  
  Scouting Report: Before his elbow reconstruction, Williams sat 94-98 mph with a high-spin fastball that played up with carry at the top of the strike zone. His three-pitch mix also includes a wipeout slider that projects as a plus pitch and a fading, mid-80s changeup. Athletic on the mound, Williams still has room on his lean frame to get stronger and add more velocity as he moves further away from surgery. He throws strikes with above-average control and has solid command of all of his pitches. Williams's build, arsenal and control are that of a no-doubt starter, but if something stalls in his rehab, his stuff would also be rather loud in a relief role.
  
  The Future: Williams is expected to be ready for spring training and could push for a spot in Low-A Lake Elsinore's rotation to start the year. He could move quickly up the organizational depth chart if his pre-injury form.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 55

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #174 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Duke Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
  Age At Draft: 20.8
  BA Grade: 40/Extreme
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: - | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: | Control: 50
  An athletic righthander with a still-projectable, 6-foot-5, 200-pound frame, Williams was a candidate to make a jump this spring. He never got that chance after having Tommy John surgery in December of 2021, which ended his 2022 season before it started. When healthy, Williams has shown a solid three-pitch mix including a fastball in the low 90s, a low-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup with good command. He’ll have just 37.2 collegiate innings under his belt on draft day, but scouts will have to decide where he fits in the draft based on that small sample and his most recent looks during fall ball. At the time, Williams ran his fastball up to 95 mph with a slider that flashed plus and the athleticism and frame to project more velocity in the future. Entering the year, he was viewed as a potential second- or third-round pick, but the industry might not have much of a consensus after not seeing him throw at all during the spring.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The Padres scouted Williams at Darien (Conn.) High and kept tabs on him as he made his way to Duke. He pitched just 37.2 innings in his college career before having Tommy John surgery, but the Padres saw enough in that limited stint to draft him in the third round, No. 91 overall, and sign him for an above-slot $800,000 signing bonus. Williams continued rehabbing after being selected and did not pitch in live games, but he flew out to the Padres' complex in Arizona every other weekend to throw bullpens while continuing to work toward his degree at Duke.
  
  Scouting Report: Before his elbow reconstruction, Williams sat 94-98 mph with a high-spin fastball that played up with carry at the top of the strike zone. His three-pitch mix also includes a wipeout slider that projects as a plus pitch and a fading, mid-80s changeup. Athletic on the mound, Williams still has room on his lean frame to get stronger and add more velocity as he moves further away from surgery. He throws strikes with above-average control and has solid command of all of his pitches. Williams's build, arsenal and control are that of a no-doubt starter, but if something stalls in his rehab, his stuff would also be rather loud in a relief role.
  
  The Future: Williams is expected to be ready for spring training and could push for a spot in Low-A Lake Elsinore's rotation to start the year. He could move quickly up the organizational depth chart if his pre-injury form.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 55
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The Padres scouted Williams at Darien (Conn.) High and kept tabs on him as he made his way to Duke. He pitched just 37.2 innings in his college career before having Tommy John surgery, but the Padres saw enough in that limited stint to draft him in the third round, No. 91 overall, and sign him for an above-slot $800,000 signing bonus. Williams continued rehabbing after being selected and did not pitch in live games, but he flew out to the Padres' complex in Arizona every other weekend to throw bullpens while continuing to work toward his degree at Duke.
  
  Scouting Report: Before his elbow reconstruction, Williams sat 94-98 mph with a high-spin fastball that played up with carry at the top of the strike zone. His three-pitch mix also includes a wipeout slider that projects as a plus pitch and a fading, mid-80s changeup. Athletic on the mound, Williams still has room on his lean frame to get stronger and add more velocity as he moves further away from surgery. He throws strikes with above-average control and has solid command of all of his pitches. Williams's build, arsenal and control are that of a no-doubt starter, but if something stalls in his rehab, his stuff would also be rather loud in a relief role.
  
  The Future: Williams is expected to be ready for spring training and could push for a spot in Low-A Lake Elsinore's rotation to start the year. He could move quickly up the organizational depth chart if his pre-injury form.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 55
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  August Update: An athletic righthander with a still-projectable, 6-foot-5, 200-pound frame, Williams was a candidate to make a jump this spring. He never got that chance after having Tommy John surgery in December of 2021, which ended his 2022 season before it started. When healthy, Williams has shown a solid three-pitch mix including a fastball in the low 90s, a low-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup with good command. He&#39ll have just 37.2 collegiate innings under his belt on draft day, but scouts will have to decide where he fits in the draft based on that small sample and his most recent looks during fall ball. At the time, Williams ran his fastball up to 95 mph with a slider that flashed plus and the athleticism and frame to project more velocity in the future.