For Malik Williams, the sky is the limit; the 23-year-old baseball player has a wealth of achievements. Apart from being named among the most notable players in the Atlantic Sun (ASUN) Conference American baseball championships, he received the National Collegiate Association Team Award, one of the most prestigious awards in college athletics, in 2022.
Most recently, he was offered a contract with the Ottawa Titans baseball team and was traded to the Evansville Otters team in Indiana. With so many achievements to his name, The Edge, A Leader’s Magazine spoke to Williams about his goals for the future, what inspires him, and what makes a good baseball player.
Can you tell us more about yourself? Where did you grow up, and where did you go to school?
I grew up in Toronto, Ontario. I went to Porter Collegiate high school in Scarborough, and then I got a scholarship to a school in Kansas. I went to Johnson County Community College for two years. I received another scholarship for a division one school in Tennessee called Lipscomb University. I was there for three years and graduated from there. I was recently offered a free-agent contract with the Ottawa Titans and was traded to an all-American team called the Evansville Otters.
Your brother also played college baseball. Was he an inspiration for you to become a baseball player? Do you have any role models?
Yes, he was. I have seen his love for the game from a young age. We both played basketball and baseball, but we decided that baseball was our sport. We went on to play collegiately at the division one level, and we both played professionally too. My dad inspired both of us to play basketball. My mom was actually the one who played baseball. She played baseball in a local league in Toronto; she was the one who really got us into baseball.
Both of my parents were coaches, too. They both coached me and my brother. I feel like that had a big role in us liking and striving in those sports. My dad coached us in basketball, and my mom coached us in baseball. It was just nice looking up to them.
You received the All-American Team Award. Can you tell us more about this award and what it means to you?
I would say this is one of the most prestigious awards in college athletics. There are about 15 people on the team, and there are three different teams. They have a first team, a second team, and a third team. And that’s about 45 of the best players in the country. This award really meant a lot to me because it was just valuing me as one of the best three first basemen in the United States.
What would you say are the ideal qualities of a baseball player?
I would say to have at least a decent speed and know how to field and throw the ball accurately. Someone that can make the routine plays all the time and someone that makes extraordinary plays that are hard to make. Also, he must have a feel for hitting, whether that’s hitting for power or for contact. A player must have good hand-eye coordination and can consistently hit the ball hard. That would make them a good prospect.
What advice would you give younger athletes aspiring to become like you?
I would tell younger athletes to chase their dreams and give it all they have. Even when you feel like quitting, just keep striving and keep working as hard as possible. The harder you work, people see it as well as coaches and scouts. They know who’s a hard worker and who’s not a hard worker, and that’s going to really separate you from others, to just be disciplined. Work on consistency, and I believe you will do great things.
What are your dreams for the future?
Obviously making it to the major leagues. That is my goal, and that’s what I’m striving for right now. I am already in with the minor leagues, but I just want to make that jump as soon as possible. I have to keep going for it. I want to play for any major league team. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind playing for any team, but I would say the Toronto Blue Jays would probably be my top choice; just playing for the hometown team I feel like that would be a cool experience; a lot of family and friends can just come and watch. That would be cool.
What would you like to do when you aren’t playing baseball?
I like to work out and go to the gym, and just hang out with friends and family. I would say those are my two biggest things.
David Messiha | Staff Writer
