Andrew Williamson arrived at UCF with little fanfare and only two scholarship offers. Three years later, the outfielder has developed into one of the top draft prospects in the Big 12 and is expected to hear his name called early in next month’s MLB draft.
The journey from lightly recruited prospect to potential professional player has been fueled by confidence, steady development and a belief that he belonged on one of college baseball’s biggest stages.
“I would say definitely the mentality and the confidence,” Williamson said. “Feeling that I really belong there instead of just trying to keep up and make a statement.”
Williamson, a 6-foot, 195-pound outfielder, emerged as one of the most productive hitters in college baseball during his three seasons at UCF. After a solid freshman campaign in 2024, he broke out as a sophomore, batting .352 with 13 home runs and 19 doubles while leading the Knights in most major offensive categories.
He followed that performance with another standout season in 2026, hitting .322 with 16 home runs, 13 doubles, four triples, 48 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 265 plate appearances. He paired his power production with advanced plate discipline, drawing 41 walks against 47 strikeouts.
Williamson’s success extends beyond college baseball. He earned MVP honors of the Cal Ripken League in 2024 and showcased his bat against elite competition in the Cape Cod League last summer, hitting three home runs in just 15 games.
Defensively, Williamson has generated plenty of attention from professional scouts thanks to a loose, explosive swing and above-average arm strength in right field.
The rise has been particularly meaningful considering how little recruiting attention he received coming out of high school.
“I only had two offers,” Williamson said. “UCF really had belief in me. The university is phenomenal, and with their belief in me, it felt like that was definitely the right move to make.”
His other offer came from South Florida. Playing at UCF allowed Williamson to play in the Big 12 Conference, as the Knight transitioned into the conference before his sophomore season. Competing against nationally ranked programs on a weekly basis helped validate his belief that he could succeed at the highest level of college baseball.
“I kind of realized my freshman fall that I actually belonged with the team,” Williamson said. “The talent around me is phenomenal every single year, but that was when I started to have some belief that I belonged.”
That confidence translated into production. While scouts have noticed Williamson’s power, he prides himself on being a complete player capable of impacting games in multiple ways.
“Whatever the team needs in that moment,” Williamson said. “Whether it’s throwing someone out, stealing a bag or making a diving play in the outfield, I want to do that at an elite level.”
As his draft stock climbed over the last two years, Williamson leaned on his uncle, former major leaguer Sean Rodriguez.
Rodriguez spent parts of 10 seasons in the majors and has served as a mentor as Williamson navigates the pressures that accompany professional attention.
“He’s definitely impacted me on many different levels,” Williamson said. “He’s awesome as a family member, and it’s kind of an extra perk that he also played in the MLB and has that knowledge of baseball that he’s able to help me out with as well.”
Now, with the draft approaching, Williamson is balancing workouts with teams, combine preparation, and the anticipation of waiting for his professional future to unfold.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Williamson said. “I’m definitely very blessed and fortunate. I’m looking forward to the clarity that’s coming up because it’s been a lot of guessing and projections. I’m definitely looking forward to finding out for sure.”
Through it all, Williamson remains grounded by his faith, which he credits as the driving force behind his baseball career and personal development.
“What motivates me to play the game of baseball is to glorify my Lord Jesus,” Williamson said. “He gives me the gifts. He wakes me up and gives me the strength that I have. I want to go out there and put it on display for others to see.”
Read more in-depth stories on top 2026 MLB draft prospects at Baseball Prospect Journal.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for 11 years. He has interviewed 613 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as an “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
