Oklahoma State University Athletics
Where Are They Now: Scott Williamson
October 17, 2003 | Cowboy Baseball
Oklahoma State (1997): Williamson pitched one season for OSU after transferring from Tulane. He had a solid season, going 7-3 and earning first team All-Big 12 honors. In high school, he was the district MVP with a 0.68 ERA and was an all-state selection during his senior season.
Cincinnati Reds (1999-2003): Williamson was named the National League winner of the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award in 1999. He was the only player named on all 32 ballots cast by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America. He was also voted The Sporting News' National League Rookie Pitcher of the Year by his peers. Williamson also earned a spot on the National League All-Star team and established franchise rookie records for relief victories (12) and relief losses (7), a record he still holds. He threw 2.0 perfect innings against the Dodgers on May 27, 1999 by striking out all six batters, tying a National League record for most consecutive strikeouts in a game by a relief pitcher. In his second Major League season, he went 5-8 with a 3.29 ERA in 10 starts and 38 relief appearances and led the Reds with a career-high 136 strikeouts. Williamson spent most of 2001 rehabilitating his right shoulder following “Tommy John” surgery and made only two appearances – the first an opening-day loss to Atlanta and the second a 3-2 victory versus Pittsburgh in March. Last season, he went 3-4 with a 2.92 ERA and 8 saves in 63 games, al in relief. He had a 4.86 ERA before the All-Star break and a 1.33 ERA in the final half of the season. After Danny Graves entered the starting rotation, he became the closer and converted 8-of-10 save opportunities, including a stretch where he recorded saves in 5 consecutive appearances. Williamson had a 3.19 ERA in 42 appearances for Cincinnati in 2003 before being traded to the Boston Red Sox July 29.
Boston Red Sox (2003): As the closer for the Red Sox, Williamson picked up the win over the Athletics in game 4 of the division series after taking the mound in the top of the ninth and retiring three straight Oakland batters. He also added another win in game 5 when he pitched the final 2.0 innings and struck out three Athletics batters, while not allowing a hit. Williamson also picked up the save in the first game of the championship series against the Yankees, striking out two New York batters in one inning of work. In the fourth game of the series against the Yankees, Williamson struck out three batters in one inning of work to pick up his second save as the Red Sox defeated the Yankees 3-2. He also pitched the final inning of game six, picking up his third save and forcing game seven with the Yankees.
