DURHAM, NC – Coastal Plain League (CPL) alum Ben Williamson didn’t take long to record his first hit during this Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with Seattle on April 15. In fact, the starter at third base made contact on just the fifth pitch thrown to him, and connected on a single to left field. He would finish the day 1-for-3 with a run scored and a strike out.
Taken in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Mariners, Williamson has had a short road to the highest stage. After finishing a short 2023 season in Single-A Modesto, he saw action the next season between Advanced-A Everett and Double-A Arkansas. Overall that year, he slashed .283/.375/.394 with 64 RBIs and drew 59 walks. After participating in Spring Training as a non-roster invitee, Williamson started the 2025 campaign with Triple-A Tacoma, where he played in 14 games and batted .281 before getting the news of being called up.
With the Tri-City Chili Peppers for their inaugural season in 2021, Williamson proved to be one of their more consistent hitters, finishing the summer with a .291 average, third-best on the club. The College of William & Mary product had 23 hits, six doubles, two home runs, scored 14 runs and recorded 16 RBIs. He also walked six times and stole three bags.
Williamson is the first-ever Chili Pepper to reach the Bigs. He is the CPL’s fifth of the 2025 season and 199th overall.
About Coastal Plain League:
The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier and most innovative summer collegiate baseball league. The CPL is currently comprised of 15 franchises playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. To date, the CPL has had over 1,800 alumni drafted, and 199 alums make their Major League debut. Most notable alumni include Justin Verlander, Ryan Zimmerman, Mark Reynolds, Kevin Youkilis, Chris Taylor, Alec Bohm, Jake Cave, Chas McCormick and NFL Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok @CPLBaseball.
About Capitol Broadcasting Company:
Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAZ-TV, WRAL-FM, WRAL-HD2, WNGT-CD, WCMC-FM, WCMC-HD1, WDNC-AM, WCMC-HD2, WCMC-HD3, WCLY-AM, WCMC-HD4, Microspace, WRAL Digital and Wolfpack Sports Properties (a joint venture with Learfield) in Raleigh, NC; WILM-TV, WILT-LD and Sunrise Broadcasting in Wilmington, NC; The Durham Bulls Baseball Club, Bull City Hospitality and Coastal Plain League in Durham, NC; The Holly Springs Salamanders in Holly Springs, NC; Greenville Yard Gnomes in Greenville, NC, the American Underground startup hub in Durham, NC; and real estate interests including the American Tobacco Historic District in Durham, NC, and Rocky Mount Mills in Rocky Mount, NC.