Jerome Williams (baseball)

Williams during his tenure with the San Francisco Giants in 2005 spring training.

Williams was the San Francisco Giants first-round draft pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft, the 39th overall selection. He spent 4 and a half years in the minors, compiling a record of 27–26 before being called up in 2003. He was a regular starter in the Giants rotation in 2003–2004, going 7–5 with a 3.30 ERA in 2003.

In 2004, Williams started 22 games for the Giants, recording 10 wins with a 4.24 ERA.

In 2005, Williams started 3 games for the Giants before being traded to the Cubs.

He was acquired by the Chicago Cubs along with David Aardsma for LaTroy Hawkins during the 2005 season. In Williams' Cubs debut, he pitched 7 innings, giving up 2 runs and striking out six Milwaukee Brewers players, and ended up going 6–8 for the Cubs. Williams, however, played most of 2006 with the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate, the Iowa Cubs, appearing only in 5 games for the Cubs.

On January 12, 2007, Williams was signed by the Washington Nationals organization and in spring training earned a slot in the Nationals starting rotation.[1]

Williams had a rough April for the Nationals, his ERA ballooning to 7.77 before he pitched a brilliant game at the end of the month, pitching six innings of one-hit shut-out ball against the New York Mets. But he sprained his left ankle sliding into second base, and landed on the 15-day disabled list. He came back on May 15, lasting only two innings, allowing five runs on seven hits, and leaving with a rotator-cuff injury. His rehabilitation in the minors did not go well, and after 14 appearances with Double-A Harrisburg, in which he compiled a 9.08 ERA, on August 5, he was released.

On August 8, 2007, he signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins.[2]

Williams, however, struggled mightily with Rochester and in 8 games had an ERA of 9.00 and was let go after the season.

In April 2008, he signed a contract with the Long Beach Armada of the Golden Baseball League.

On June 24, 2008, the Los Angeles Dodgers purchased his contract and he played in their minor league system through the end of the season.

At the end of the minor league season, September 5, 2008, Williams was waived by the Dodgers and then claimed by the Oakland Athletics.[3] Williams did not play for Oakland and was not tendered a contract after the season, making him a free agent. He subsequently re-signed with Oakland and spent 2009 with their top farm club, the Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League.

Williams played winter baseball for the Indios de Mayaguez in Puerto Rico in 2008–09. He played for the Uni-President Lions of CPBL in Taiwan during 2010.

On June 16, 2011, Williams signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He was assigned to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees.[4] Williams had his contract purchased on August 16, after recording a 3.91 ERA in 11 games and ​73 ²⁄₃ innings in Triple-A.[5]

On August 21, 2011, Williams acquired his first major league win since 2005 in his first major league start since 2007. He finished the season with a 4–0 record in 10 games.

In June 2012, Williams had breathing problems and later collapsed in the clubhouse, forcing the Angels to place him on the disabled list. For the first time since his rookie year, Williams spent the whole season in the big leagues. He was a key asset for Anaheim out of the bullpen, being their long man/spot starter. Williams appeared in 32 games, and made 15 starts for the Angels. He compiled a 6–8 record with a 4.58 ERA.

In 2013, Williams made 25 starts for the Angels, appearing in 37 games overall. After recording a 9–10 record with a 4.57 ERA in 2013, Williams was non-tendered by the Angels, making him a free agent.[6]

On February 6, 2014, Williams signed a one-year contract with the Houston Astros.[7] He was designated for assignment on July 1, 2014.[8] He was released on July 8.

On July 11, 2014, Williams inked a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers.[9] He was designated for assignment on August 8.[10]

On August 10, 2014, the Philadelphia Phillies claimed Williams off waivers.[11] On September 20, Williams became the first pitcher in MLB history to defeat the same club with three different teams in the same season, defeating the Athletics with the Astros, Rangers, and Phillies.[12] He signed a one-year contract to stay with the Phillies on October 21, 2014.[13]

On June 3, 2016, the St. Louis Cardinals signed Williams to Minor League contract. He was immediately added to the rotation of the Memphis Redbirds, their AAA team.[14]

On May 12, 2017, Williams signed with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. On November 1, 2017, he became a free agent.

On May 4, 2018, Williams signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican Baseball League.

Williams' retirement from baseball was confirmed on December 10, 2018.