Toronto Blue Jays drafts player with Vincy roots

by Elma Gabriel 14.JUN.11

On Wednesday, June 8, the Toronto Blue Jays drafted Mets Alumni RHP Leslie Williams in 37th Round.{{more}}

Leslie has just finished his senior season with the Northeastern Huskies (NCAA D1) as their Friday night starter. The 22-year-old Williams hails from Scarborough, Ontario and was a Toronto Met in 2006 and 2007. He attended Birchmount Park Collegiate in Toronto. He was previously ranked by Baseball America as the top Canadian in the 2007 Draft before attending Northeastern for four years where he was transitioned into a pitcher. He went 5-6 as a senior, with a 3.98 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 95 innings.

Leslie also played on the Canadian national Junior baseball team from 2005 – 2007. While at the Northeastern University in Boston, Leslie was honored with Northeastern’s most prestigious athletic award. The Toronto, Ontario native was the recipient of the 2011 Herbert Gallagher Award, which recognizes Northeastern’s top senior male scholar-athlete.

Leslie Williams is the son of Elizabeth and Ronald Williams of St.Vincent and Grenadines and comes from a family with a strong athletic background.

In the 1960s, Leslie’s aunts, two sisters, Patsy and Esther Williams made the National Netball team, exhibiting performances that outshone counterparts within the Caribbean. Cecil “Blazer” Williams, known for being one of the fastest runners on the island in his hey day is Leslie’s uncle.

The family tradition continues with Leslie who today is known as an excellent all around athlete, a right handed pitcher and outfielder. Williams has a quick, compact arm stroke and very good arm strength.