Todd Williams
Encyclopedia
Todd Michael Williams (born February 13, 1971 in Syracuse, New York
) is a former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
. He last pitched for the Long Island Ducks
of the independent Atlantic League
in , and is currently a free agent. He attended Onondaga Community College
.
Drafted in the 54th round of the 1990 amateur draft
, Williams played three seasons in the minors before making his MLB debut on April 29, , for the Dodgers. On September 8, 1995, Williams was traded to the Oakland Athletics
for Matt McDonald. On January 16, , he was released by the Athletics and signed with the Cincinnati Reds
on February 3.
On July 22, , Williams was traded to the Seattle Mariners
for Kerry Robinson
. The Mariners released Williams on November 16, ; he signed with the New York Yankees
on January 3, . A free agent
at the end of the season, Williams signed with his original team, the Dodgers, but was released in spring training
. On May 3, , he signed with the Montreal Expos
and became a free agent after the season. He signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
on December 23, 2002. On December 8, , Williams signed with the Texas Rangers
, but was released on June 14, .
On June 23, 2004, Williams signed with the Baltimore Orioles
, where he would play for the next four years and make his first appearance in the majors since 2001 with the Yankees. Williams was a valuable member of the Orioles bullpen for the next three years as he posted ERA
s of 2.87, 3.30, and 4.74 in 29, 72, and 62 appearances, respectively. In , he struggled with an ERA of 7.53 before being released by the Orioles on June 17. He played in the minors for the Colorado Rockies
for the rest of the year. On May 22, 2008, Williams signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League.
On December 13, 2007, Williams was one of many athletes mentioned in the detailed Mitchell Report
by Senator George Mitchell
in which he was alleged to have used performance-enhancing drugs. Kirk Radomski
claimed he sold Winstrol to Williams once in 2001.
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
) is a former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. He last pitched for the Long Island Ducks
Long Island Ducks
The Long Island Ducks is an American professional baseball team based in Central Islip, New York. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the independent Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
in , and is currently a free agent. He attended Onondaga Community College
Onondaga Community College
Onondaga Community College is an accredited two-year educational institution that services Onondaga County, New York at three campuses. Onondaga Community College is a college of the State University of New York system and one of 30 locally sponsored community colleges throughout New York...
.
Drafted in the 54th round of the 1990 amateur draft
1990 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1990 Major League Baseball draft.-Background:The draft went a record 101 rounds, surpassing 1989's total of 88, and included a record 1,487 selections. The Astros led all clubs with 100 selections. Seattle was second with 75,...
, Williams played three seasons in the minors before making his MLB debut on April 29, , for the Dodgers. On September 8, 1995, Williams was traded to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Matt McDonald. On January 16, , he was released by the Athletics and signed with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
on February 3.
On July 22, , Williams was traded to the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
for Kerry Robinson
Kerry Robinson
Kerry Keith Robinson is a former American professional baseball player. Robinson started at an early age playing baseball for N.Y.A. in St. Louis MO...
. The Mariners released Williams on November 16, ; he signed with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
on January 3, . A free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
at the end of the season, Williams signed with his original team, the Dodgers, but was released in spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. On May 3, , he signed with the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
and became a free agent after the season. He signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
on December 23, 2002. On December 8, , Williams signed with the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, but was released on June 14, .
On June 23, 2004, Williams signed with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, where he would play for the next four years and make his first appearance in the majors since 2001 with the Yankees. Williams was a valuable member of the Orioles bullpen for the next three years as he posted ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
s of 2.87, 3.30, and 4.74 in 29, 72, and 62 appearances, respectively. In , he struggled with an ERA of 7.53 before being released by the Orioles on June 17. He played in the minors for the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
for the rest of the year. On May 22, 2008, Williams signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League.
On December 13, 2007, Williams was one of many athletes mentioned in the detailed Mitchell Report
Mitchell Report (baseball)
The Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball, informally known as the "Mitchell Report", is the result of former Democratic United States Senator from Maine...
by Senator George Mitchell
George J. Mitchell
George John Mitchell, Jr., is the former U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace under the Obama administration. A Democrat, Mitchell was a United States Senator who served as the Senate Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995...
in which he was alleged to have used performance-enhancing drugs. Kirk Radomski
Kirk Radomski
Kirk J. Radomski is a former batboy and clubhouse employee for the New York Mets Major League Baseball team from 1985–1995, who on April 27, 2007 pleaded guilty in United States district court to money laundering and illegal distribution of anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, Clenbuterol,...
claimed he sold Winstrol to Williams once in 2001.