'I'm here to rake,' After standing in for Chris Sale, WooSox' Grant Williams hoping latest trip to Fenway not his last
WORCESTER — Chris Sale is coming to Polar Park.
But first, Polar Park went to him.
The Red Sox pitcher continues to rehab and could make a return engagement with the WooSox at some point next week. Oh, and Wednesday just happens to be Chris Sale Bobblehead Night here.
More than 10,000 fans packed the ballpark last summer when the veteran left-handed superstar made a rehab start on July 31. He has yet to pitch for the Red Sox this season and he could soon be back on the mound.
He tossed a live batting practice session Thursday morning at Fenway Park and the WooSox’ Grant Williams was on hand to help out.
The 26-year-old infielder has been in the Red Sox organization since it selected him in the 10th round (310th overall) in the 2018 draft. He’s spent this season with the WooSox, so it was an interesting conversation he had with manager Chad Tracy.
When a manager is given word that he’ll have the honor to tell a minor leaguer that he’s getting promoted to the big leagues, it always starts with a sit down in the manager’s office. So, Tracy had to be careful when he delivered the news to Williams about his “call up.”
“I cut right to the chase,” Tracy said.
The manager told Williams about the live BP session and Sale wanted a left-handed hitter to step in, so Williams got the call.
“There weren’t any cliffhangers,” Williams said with a smile.
He admitted it was a cool experience, one Tracy said Williams deserved.
“It’s cool and it’s what you make of it as a player,” Tracy said. “For him to get that opportunity is a good thing.”
Before Williams made the trek from Worcester to Fenway Thursday morning, he stopped at Dunkin’ for his iced coffee, a couple donuts and breakfast sandwiches to prepare for the BP session.
During his hour-long drive east on the Pike he couldn’t help but think that this is what it feels like when you’re actually being called up. There have been plenty of players who have experienced the excitement of that drive and Williams hopes it happens one day for real.
“Absolutely,” he said. “The whole way there I was hoping at one point I’m making this drive with my glove in my hand instead of just my bat. It’s always a good experience to be able to play in front of the big-league staff and be around those guys.”
When he entered the Red Sox clubhouse, Williams made sure to visit with Red Sox manager Alex Cora. Williams also spent some time with the coaching staff and some of the players.
Cora asked Williams how his season’s going in Worcester. He explained it’s the first time in his career he’s not an every-day player and it’s taking him a bit of time to make the adjustment as a role player. Cora can appreciate that aspect.
Cora told him to focus on the process and preparation of that role.
“He was agreeing with everything I was saying,” Williams said. “It’s really tough to come off the bench, get maybe one or two starts in a week and if you start looking at results you’re going to go down the wrong path. This game is hard enough as it is, let alone not seeing live pitching every day and being able to make those fine-tune adjustments.”
Cora added it’s about competing every time you’re given an opportunity.
Williams took some swings in the batting cage and warmed up before Sale was ready to go. When the veteran pitcher was prepared to take the mound, he saw Williams and asked: “What are you doing here?”
The always-confident Williams responded: “I’m here to rake.”
So, Sale’s first pitch was a nasty front-hip slider and Williams had no chance.
“I felt dialed in,” he said. “Got in the box and that slider buckled me. Sale was laughing. He’s a great guy and his stuff looked incredible. Besides baseball, he’s one of the better guys I have ever met. He’s never too big for anybody.”
Williams stood in for two at-bats. The first one was cut short because Sale reached the inning’s pitch count. During Williams’ second at-bat, he worked the count 1-2 when Sale delivered a changeup. Williams, who is known in the organization for his ability to make consistent contact, hit a ground ball to shortstop.
“I was giving him some crap, saying they were shifting me, so it’s a hit,” Williams said with a laugh.
After the brief BP session was complete, Williams had to quickly make it back to Worcester for the night game against the Toledo Mud Hens.
“I’ve also never faced Chris Sale at 11 o’clock in the morning and then had a game at night,” Williams said. “I’m excited because I don’t think (Toledo’s) pitcher is going to look anything like Sale did, so it’s going to be a little easier.”
In 2017, Williams was a Cape Cod League All-Star for Bourne and attended a workout day at Fenway Park. Unfortunately, it rained and the workout was cancelled. So, Thursday was the first time he stepped into the box at the historic ballpark.
“It felt good to hit at Fenway Park,” Williams said.
Before he left, Sale told him, "I'll see you soon."
—Contact Joe McDonald at JMcDonald2@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeyMacHockey.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: After standing in for Chris Sale, WooSox' Grant Williams hoping latest trip to Fenway not his last
