Former Trojan Williamson drafted by Mariners

Former NIACC standout Brandon Williamson was selected by the Seattle Mariners Monday night in the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft.

Williamson, a 6-foot-6 left-handed pitcher, was the 59th overall pick of this year's draft. Williamson, who pitched at NIACC in 2017-18, spent his junior season at TCU and helped lead the Horn Frogs to the NCAA Tournament.

"It was a really cool moment for him and his family," NIACC coach Travis Hergert said. "I know his parents were with him in Fort Worth last night.

"It was a great experience for them. It puts our program on the map, as well. It's all over social media (Tuesday) and the response from a lot of people has been outstanding."

Williamson was the second TCU pitcher to go in the top two rounds of the 2019 draft. TCU left-hander Nick Lodolo was selected seventh overall by the Cincinnati Reds.

Williamson was 4-5 with a 4.19 earned run average during his junior campaign with TCU. He accumulated 89 strikeouts in 77 1/3 innings pitched.

In the 2018 MLB draft, Williamson was selected in the 36th round by the Milwaukee Brewers but he chose to attend TCU instead of signing with the Brewers.

Williamson is NIACC's all-tme strikeout leader with 151 and ranks fourth on the school's career win list with 12.

"He had humble beginnings here," Hergert said, "and now he has a chance to be in the big leagues in a couple of years."

When Williamson arrived at NIACC in the fall of 2016 from Welcome, Minn., he wasn't as big as he is now and definitely didn't throw as hard as he does now.

"He threw 81-83 mph and that's being kind," Hergert said, "but he had a really good breaking ball and was really athletic.

"He weighed about 175 pounds so we had to put some weight on him and teach him how to work a little bit. He wasn't a kid that was heavily involved in the showcase circuit or travel ball but he definitely had some upside to him."

Williamson is the sixth NIACC player to be selected in the MLB Draft and the fifth in the Travis Hergert era.

Last season, three of Hergert's players were drafted (Luke Becker, Evan Riefert and Williamson). Luke Becker, who played at NIACC in 2015, was selected in the ninth round by the San Diego Padres, and Riefert was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 30th round.

Riefert chose to return to NIACC for the 2019 season.

NIACC MLB DRAFT PICKS

2005 - Steve Salas (RHP) - 22nd round by the Los Angeles Angels

2016 - Malique Ziegler (OF) - 22nd round by the San Francisco Giants

2017 - Robbie Glendinning (SS) - 21st round by the Pittsburgh Pirates

2018 - Luke Becker (2B) - 9th round by the San Diego Padres

2018 - Evan Riefert (RHP) - 30th round by the Texas Rangers

2018 - Brandon Williamson (LHP) - 36th round by the Milwaukee Brewers

2019 - Brandon Williamson (LHP) - 2nd round by the Seattle Mariners