Seattle Mariners Prospect Ben Williamson Made Incredible Recent Franchise History in Debut

The Mariners new third baseman was a quick riser in the farm system and became the first player in over a decade to accomplish this feat.

Seattle Mariners third baseman Ben Williamson hits a single during a game against the Cincinnati Reds on April 15 at Great American Ballpark. | Albert Cesare/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

The Seattle Mariners had a poor start to their nine-game road trip and blew an early lead en route to an 8-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.

But it was a solid night for the Mariners first rookie call-up of 2025 — third baseman Ben Williamson.

Williamson made his major league debut on Tuesday. He batted eighth in the lineup and, in his first-ever big-league plate appearance, hit a 105.8 mph single. He finished the game 1-for-3 with a run.

The first hit of Ben Williamson’s major league career is a 106 mph single in his first plate appearance.#Mariners #TridentsUp https://t.co/V9mPHcZPzR

— Teren Kowatsch (@Teren_Kowatsch) April 15, 2025

Williamson was taken in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft and was a quick riser in Seattle's farm system. He rose through the ranks so quickly that he accomplished something just one other player has done in the last 12 years of franchise history.

Williamson played 150 minor league games before making his major league debut. According to a note from Mariners PR shared on "X" (formerly known as Twitter) by Seattle Times reporter Tim Booth, he's the first Seattle player to make his debut after playing 150 games or less in the minor leagues. The last player was catcher Mike Zunino in 2013. Zunino played 96 games in the minors before making his debut.

Thanks to the awesome @MarinersPR staff:

Ben Williamson has played in 150 minor league games. When he debuts for the M's he'll be the first prospect with 150 or fewer games in the minors since Mike Zunino in 2013.

Zunino played in 96 games in the minors before his debut.

— Tim Booth (@ByTimBooth) April 13, 2025

Williamson has garnered rave reviews for his glove at the hot corner. But he also showed decent patience and a solid approach at the plate in his first taste of big league action. Despite not getting on base after his single, Williamson had a seven-pitch at-bat in his second plate appearance that resulted in a strikeout and a five-pitch at-bat his third that ended with him lining out.

The plan right now for the Mariners seems to be to platoon at third base with Williamson facing left-handed pitchers and Miles Mastrobuoni facing right-handers. But if Williamson continues to display comfort and delivers on defense and at the plate, he might get more opportunities.

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