Beyond right field at PNG Field – home of the Altoona Curve – sits the Skyliner roller coaster.
Some may think the Skyliner serves as the backdrop for a minor league stadium in the Allegheny Mountains, and it does. The Skyliner is more so a reminder to each and every player who steps to the plate at PNG Field, that their journey to the majors is going to be a roller coaster ride.
For Altoona Curve C Jackson Williams the Skyliner is the perfect symbol to describe his up and down ride of a career thus far. Williams has played in 14 games in the Major Leagues, seven a piece for both the Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants between the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
The goal for Williams is to get back to the Majors and his time in Altoona this year will play a pivotal role in whether he makes it back or not. Williams knows what it takes to get back and hopefully stick and one of the biggest things he’s been able to do throughout his career is remain positive.
“It’s had its ups and downs, but i try to stay positive. It’s a deal where I still feel like I can play this game at a high level, I still feel like I’ve got a good chance to make it back to the big leagues and hopefully stay there for a while,” Williams said of his mindset. “I just turned 31 this year but my body feels good and I don’t feel like I’m on the decline in any way shape or form.”
A man of many jerseys
Williams has been all over the map playing in the minor leagues, spending a majority of his time in the Eastern League. Along the way, he has learned that if you lose perspective on where you’re at, bad things will happen, but the important thing is still being a great teammate and making those around you better.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]It’s one of those things where you can’t think about that (being called up)[/perfectpullquote]“If you take things out of perspective, you’ve really got to hone in on putting things in perspective and just realizing where you’re at, embracing where you are at and trying to play well and trying to make the guys around you better,” Williams said.
The journey is difficult, mainly because you don’t want to be at the level you’re at unless your in the big leagues. The key for Williams, a guy who’s been a journeyman of sorts even this year, is embracing everything that comes your way. Williams has been on the roster of five teams since November, something that is not quite easy to deal with.
“Sure, it’s a battle. Is Double-A where I want to be? No, but I mean nobody in this clubhouse wants to be in Double-A,” Williams said. “At the same time if you embrace it and realize you’re here and just try to play well and leave it all out there on the field and do the best you can, good things are gonna happen.”
Helping the youngsters
Catchers are often relied upon to provide leadership on every team, they are the players who handle every pitch selection, defensive alignments, and control the defense. When you’ve been around as long as Williams more is not necessarily expected from you, that remains the same no matter the age, but more and more players come to you for advice and to pick your brain.
“As a young guy I can remember my first few years in Double-A and some deals where you put pressure on yourself because you want to succeed. you want to make your way up through the ranks,” Williams recollected. “You start seeing movement and especially if you’re playing well and you’re sitting there waiting on that promotion, waiting on that promotion, like I might be going to Triple-A soon at some point.”
[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]It’s had its ups and downs, but i try to stay positive[/perfectpullquote]Throughout all of the trials and tribulations, wondering when you’re going to get called up, or seeing your teammates and friends get called up and struggle, it’s difficult to not let your mind wander and let outside influences distract your game.
“It’s one of those things where you can’t think about that (being called up). You gotta be where you’re at, embrace where you’re at, worry about what you can control, and come to the ballpark every day ready to play and staying positive,’ Williams said of what he thinks should be an appropriate mindset for a minor leaguer.
Ultimately, baseball is a difficult game full of failure where success is scarce, but to get to the majors, it’s important to stay positive to get to where you want to go.
“Baseball is a negative enough game anyways. You’re going to fail and you’re going to fail a lot,” Williams spoke of failure. “It’s not a matter of if you’re going to fail, its a matter of when.”
Experience has taught the Curve backstop many things both on a personal and professional level something he relays to his teammates with his advice.
“The one thing that I know from experience from talking with coaches, managers, or whoever, they know the slumps are gonna come, it’s just a matter of time. It’s baseball. It’s how you bounce back from them.” Williams said about handling slumps. “What do you do to right the ship again? Are you gonna sit there and feel sorry for yourself? or are you going to try and take something positive from every game and learn from it and build on it and get better.”
What’s next for Williams?
Appearing in 11 games for the Altoona Curve so far this season, Williams has been on a tear with a .333/.467/.361 slash line. At 31-years old, Williams is far from a top prospect, but still serviceable as he stays hitting and playing defense. Catchers within the Pirates organization are in a log jam as far as moving up with Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart at the major league level and not looking like they will be going anywhere soon. At Triple-A, Jacob Stallings and Elias Diaz find themselves with nowhere to go, leaving Williams to stay with the Curve and do his best to advance up the ladder.
Baseball can’t last forever, not just for Williams, but any one who plays the game. For Williams though, what remains after baseball is yet to be seen and is on the back burner as he gears up for the dog days of summer.
“I’m just trying to play well, do what i can to help this team win or wherever I’m at. If the opportunity presents itself where I get a chance to go somewhere else and play Im going to embrace it and hope to make it back to the big leagues,” Williams said of his mindset this summer. “I’m not getting any younger. It’s one of those things where I want to try and find a home in the big leagues and stay up there as long as I can.”
Father Time is an element of life that is undefeated especially among athletes. As time wears on, seasons get longer and longer and the body begins to take longer to recover than it used to. Playing a position as physically demanding as catcher wears on the hips, the knees, the ankles, and the arms. The careers of catchers are short as a result of the demands of the position.
Williams summed up his journey very succinctly, “It’s been a roller coaster ride.”
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