Trevor Williams Bio
Trevor Anthony Williams is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, and New York Mets. A starter who has also handled bullpen duties during his career, Williams made his MLB debut in 2016 with the Pirates after being selected in the 2013 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins.
Across his MLB tenure, Williams has been known for his strike-throwing approach, durability as a starter, and willingness to accept any role his team requires. He has appeared in both the American League and National League, and he has continued to compete at the highest level after recovering from injury setbacks.
Early Life and Background
Trevor Anthony Williams was born on April 25, 1992, in the United States. He grew up in the San Diego area and attended Rancho Bernardo High School, where he developed his pitching foundation. His time in a competitive Southern California baseball scene helped shape his work ethic on the mound.
After high school, Williams took his game to Arizona State University, playing college baseball for the Sun Devils from 2011 to 2013. Across his college career, he started 38 games and posted an 18–8 record with a 2.98 earned run average (ERA). In 2012, he extended his development by playing collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League, a respected showcase for top college talent.
Path to Baseball
Williams entered professional baseball when the Miami Marlins selected him in the second round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his professional debut that year across the Gulf Coast League Marlins, Batavia Muckdogs, and Greensboro Grasshoppers, finishing 0–2 with a 2.38 ERA in 12 starts while adjusting to the rigors of pro ball.
In 2014, Williams opened the year with the Jupiter Hammerheads, where his performance earned Florida State League All-Star honors before a promotion to the Jacksonville Suns. He combined for an 8–7 record and 3.13 ERA between the two clubs. The following season, he split time between Jacksonville and the New Orleans Zephyrs, going 7–10 with a 3.85 ERA in 25 games, refining the repertoire that would soon carry him to the majors.
Trevor Williams Career
Early Career (2015-2016)
On October 24, 2015, the Marlins traded Williams to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Richard Mitchell, completing a package tied to a front-office move by Miami. In 2016, Williams pitched for the Indianapolis Indians, going 9–6 with a 2.53 ERA in 20 games, including 19 starts, and forcing his way onto the Pirates’ September call-up list.
Williams made his MLB debut with the Pirates in September 2016, appearing in relief across 12⅔ innings and finishing his first major-league stint at 1–1 with a 7.82 ERA. That brief look at the highest level set the stage for a full-season opportunity the following year.
Pittsburgh Pirates (2017-2020)
Williams began 2017 with Pittsburgh out of the bullpen before transitioning into the starting rotation as the season unfolded. In 31 appearances, including 25 starts, he recorded a 7–9 record with a 4.07 ERA and 1.31 WHIP, establishing himself as a reliable rotation option for the Pirates.
In 2018, Williams delivered his most consistent big-league season to that point, going 14–10 with a 3.11 ERA across 31 starts and 170⅔ innings. The following season proved more difficult, as he slipped to 7–9 with a 5.38 ERA in 26 starts. The 2020 shortened campaign was his toughest stretch, when he went 2–8 with a 6.18 ERA and led the National League in home runs allowed with 15. On November 20, 2020, the Pirates designated him for assignment, and he elected free agency on November 28.
Chicago Cubs (2021)
On February 5, 2021, Williams signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Chicago Cubs, seeking a fresh start in a new organization. The season took an unexpected turn on May 31, when he was placed on the injured list after undergoing an emergency appendectomy.
Despite the medical setback, Williams returned to contribute for the Cubs, finishing his time in Chicago with a 4–2 record and a 5.06 ERA across 13 games and 12 starts, totaling 58⅔ innings. His durability through the rehab process reinforced his reputation as a dependable innings-eater.
New York Mets (2021-2022)
On July 30, 2021, the Cubs traded Williams to the New York Mets along with Javier Báez and cash considerations in exchange for Pete Crow-Armstrong. He appeared in 10 games for the Mets down the stretch, registering a 3.06 ERA with 29 strikeouts across 32⅓ innings, giving New York another veteran arm for the playoff push.
On July 14, 2022, Williams recorded his first career save after tossing three scoreless innings of relief against the Chicago Cubs, demonstrating his versatility as both a starter and a reliever. He finished his Mets tenure as a dependable multi-role pitcher for the club.
Washington Nationals (2022-Present)
On December 10, 2022, Williams signed a two-year, $13 million contract with the Washington Nationals, marking his first multi-year free-agent deal. In his first season with Washington in 2023, he made 30 appearances and posted a 5.55 ERA with 111 strikeouts across 144⅓ innings, continuing to handle a starting workload.
In 2024, Williams delivered one of his most efficient major-league seasons, making 13 appearances with a 2.03 ERA and 59 strikeouts across 66⅔ innings before reaching free agency. On December 30, 2024, he signed a two-year, $14 million contract to remain with the Nationals. In 2025, he made 17 starts for Washington, going 3–10 with a 6.21 ERA and 65 strikeouts across 82⅔ innings before a partial tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, announced on July 9, 2025, ended his season. He underwent an internal brace procedure on July 19, 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Trevor Williams’s career is his 2018 breakout, when he logged 31 starts and 170⅔ innings with a 3.11 ERA, plus his July 14, 2022 save against the Cubs, his first in the major leagues. His 2020 campaign, though statistically difficult, also placed him atop the National League in home runs allowed, a reminder of how hitter-friendly that shortened season became.
Trevor Williams Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Trevor Williams’s immediate family is limited. He grew up in the San Diego area and attended Rancho Bernardo High School before moving on to Arizona State University, where his college pitching coach and teammates helped shape his early professional identity.
Personal Life
Williams is a devout Catholic, a member of the Knights of Columbus, and his heavily tattooed arms include the Jesuit motto “AMDG” and an allusion to Benedict of Nursia. In November 2014, he married his wife, Jackie. The couple welcomed a son in 2015 and an adopted daughter in July 2019.
2025 Season Performance
Trevor Williams began 2025 as a member of the Washington Nationals’ rotation after re-signing with the club on December 30, 2024. Across 17 starts before his injury, he went 3–10 with a 6.21 ERA while striking out 65 batters in 82⅔ innings, a stretch that tested his usual reliability on the mound.
The season took a decisive turn on July 9, 2025, when the Nationals announced that Williams had suffered a partial tear in his ulnar collateral ligament and would require surgery. He underwent an internal brace procedure on July 19, 2025, sidelining him for the remainder of the year and shifting his focus to a full rehabilitation cycle.
Looking beyond 2025, Williams remains under contract with Washington through 2026, giving the organization a clear runway to monitor his recovery and plan his return to the rotation. His familiarity with the Nationals’ staff and clubhouse should support a steady comeback once he regains arm strength.