Ben Williamson Bio
Benjamin Andrew Williamson (born November 5, 2000) is an American professional baseball third baseman currently playing in Major League Baseball (MLB). After a decorated college career with the William & Mary Tribe, Williamson was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2023 and quickly rose through the minor leagues before reaching the majors in 2025. He is widely regarded as a steady defensive player at the hot corner, with the bat and the glove that earned him recognition across the Colonial Athletic Association.
Early Life and Background
Benjamin Andrew Williamson was born on November 5, 2000, and grew up in Chantilly, Virginia. He attended Freedom High School in nearby South Riding, where he developed into one of the region’s most polished young infielders. During his senior season in 2019, Williamson earned both the conference and regional player of the year awards, signaling his readiness for the next level.
Williamson came from an athletic family, with his mother having competed as a college gymnast at James Madison University. That background helped shape his discipline and work ethic, qualities that would later define his approach to the game. Following high school, he chose to stay in Virginia and continue his development at the College of William & Mary.
Path to Baseball
Williamson enrolled at the College of William & Mary and quickly became a cornerstone of the William & Mary Tribe baseball program. Over three consecutive seasons from 2021 to 2023, he was named to the First Team All-Colonial Athletic Association, becoming the first player in school history to earn that distinction three years in a row. His combination of contact hitting and reliable defense made him one of the most respected middle infielders turned third basemen in the conference.
In 2022, Williamson added the CAA Defensive Player of the Year award to his résumé after posting a .975 fielding percentage. He then elevated his offense in 2023, batting .391 with a .513 on-base percentage, 12 home runs, and 49 runs batted in, while also stealing 14 bases. Those numbers earned him CAA Player of the Year honors and drew the attention of MLB scouts. Prior to the 2023 MLB draft, he also played nine games of collegiate summer baseball with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Ben Williamson Career
Early Career (2023–2024)
The Seattle Mariners selected Williamson in the second round, with the 57th overall pick, of the 2023 MLB draft. On July 14, 2023, he signed with the Mariners for an under-slot deal worth $600,000. He made his professional debut that year, appearing in two games for the Arizona Complex League Mariners before playing 10 games for the Single-A Modesto Nuts.
Williamson opened 2024 with the High-A Everett AquaSox and batted .315 in 29 games, earning a May promotion to the Double-A Arkansas Travelers. With Arkansas, he hit .273 and added three home runs across 95 games, working through adjustments to more advanced pitching while remaining a strong defender at third base.
Seattle Mariners Era (2025)
Williamson began the 2025 season with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, batting .281 with three doubles in 14 games. On April 13, 2025, the Mariners promoted him to the major leagues for the first time. Two days later, he recorded a single in his first major league plate appearance, officially announcing his arrival in the big leagues.
He served as Seattle’s starting third baseman until the Mariners re-acquired Eugenio Suárez on July 30. At the time of his demotion, Williamson led American League third basemen in Defensive Runs Saved, even though his offensive production sat near the bottom of the league in on-base plus slugging. He finished his first MLB campaign batting .253 with a .294 on-base percentage and a .310 slugging mark, and ranked sixth among all MLB third basemen in Defensive Runs Saved despite spending several months in the minors. He was added to the Mariners roster for the AL Division Series but did not appear in the postseason and was removed from the roster for the AL Championship Series.
Tampa Bay Rays Era (2026–Present)
On February 2, 2026, the Mariners traded Williamson to the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team deal. The Mariners received Brendan Donovan, while the St. Louis Cardinals received Jurrangelo Cijntje, Tai Peete, Colton Ledbetter, and two Competitive Balance Round B picks in the 2026 MLB draft. Williamson joined the Rays and continued serving as a third baseman, wearing jersey number 15.
Driving Style and Strengths
Williamson’s value is anchored in his glove, where his range, sure hands, and instincts have repeatedly produced strong defensive metrics, including an AL lead in Defensive Runs Saved during his first MLB stint. At the plate, he profiles as a contact-oriented hitter who works counts and uses the whole field, though his power output remains a work in progress. His steady approach and willingness to make adjustments have allowed him to move quickly through each level of professional baseball.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones include being named CAA Player of the Year in 2023, becoming the first William & Mary player to earn three consecutive First Team All-CAA selections, and reaching the major leagues on April 13, 2025. His first major league hit, a single two days after his promotion, marked a memorable early career moment, while his trade to the Tampa Bay Rays in February 2026 opened a new chapter in his professional journey.
Ben Williamson Career Wins
Williamson’s career highlights reflect a steady climb through amateur and professional baseball rather than a long list of championship victories. His most celebrated accomplishments came at William & Mary, where three consecutive All-CAA selections and conference player of the year awards established him as one of the program’s all-time greats. In the majors, his rookie season with the Mariners produced no major individual awards but laid a foundation for his continued role as a defensively driven third baseman.
College Highlights
Across his three seasons with the William & Mary Tribe, Williamson earned First Team All-CAA honors in 2021, 2022, and 2023, the first player in school history to do so. He won CAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and CAA Player of the Year in 2023, while also contributing in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. Those performances made him one of the most decorated position players in program history.
Other Wins & Performances
Williamson earned conference and regional player of the year awards during his senior season at Freedom High School in 2019. His professional minor league stops included strong showings with the High-A Everett AquaSox, where he hit .315 in 29 games in 2024, and a Triple-A debut with the Tacoma Rainiers in 2025.
Ben Williamson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Williamson grew up in Chantilly, Virginia, in an athletic household that helped shape his competitive foundation. His mother was a college gymnast at James Madison University, an experience that influenced his early training and discipline.
Personal Life
Williamson continues to focus on his professional baseball career and maintains ties to his Virginia roots. He is known publicly primarily for his accomplishments on the field, and additional verified details about his personal relationships are not publicly available at this time.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Williamson’s first full year in Major League Baseball after his promotion from Triple-A Tacoma on April 13. He became Seattle’s everyday third baseman and quickly showed why the organization had fast-tracked him, recording a hit in his first plate appearance just two days after his call-up. His defense at the hot corner stood out, leading all American League third basemen in Defensive Runs Saved at the time of his July 30 demotion.
Offensively, Williamson finished the year batting .253 with a .294 on-base percentage and a .310 slugging mark, numbers that placed him near the bottom of the league in on-base plus slugging. The Mariners re-acquired Eugenio Suárez at the trade deadline, which pushed Williamson back to Tacoma for the rest of the regular season. Despite the option, he ranked sixth among all MLB third basemen in Defensive Runs Saved and was added to the AL Division Series roster, though he did not appear in postseason play.
Heading into the offseason, Williamson’s 2025 campaign established him as a reliable defensive third baseman with offensive upside still to be tapped. That profile ultimately made him an attractive trade chip, and on February 2, 2026, the Mariners dealt him to the Tampa Bay Rays, signaling a fresh opportunity for the young infielder.
