​Andrew Williamson is poised to receive exactly what he’s always wanted for his 21st birthday. The St. Petersburg native will celebrate with family and friends on July 11 at a watch party for this weekend’s MLB draft, marking a pivotal moment in a career that has steadily built toward professional baseball. Williamson, a 6-foot, 175-pound junior outfielder, looks like a near-lock to hear his name called within the first four rounds, with a realistic chance of becoming the first UCF baseball player drafted in the first round since 2004. ESPN places him as its No. 50 overall draft-eligible prospect, while MLB Pipeline ranks him 52nd.
Throughout his time at UCF, Williamson was a constant presence, starting 152 of 160 games across the Knights’ first three seasons in the Big 12 Conference. This past spring he enjoyed a standout campaign, batting .322 with a career-high 16 home runs, 13 doubles, 48 RBIs, 58 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. “Obviously, he’ll go down as one of the elite players in our program,” Knights coach Rich Wallace said. “He’s a dynamic player on and off the field. He immersed himself into our family. He’s elite in every category you would want a student-athlete to be.”
Williamson’s journey to this point began when he was just three years old, swinging a bat and trying to imitate the smile and swing of former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier. He and his brother converted their bedroom into a makeshift locker room, hanging equipment from bungee cords to practice between dreams of future glory. “My dad built a dugout in our garage out of wood with steps and railing,” Williamson recalled. “I don’t know if they loved the bedroom, but I don’t remember them being mad about it.”
Baseball clearly runs in the family. Williamson’s uncle, Sean Rodríguez, enjoyed a 13-year major league career, playing for the Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and Miami Marlins. That lineage and support helped Williamson capture scouts’ attention with a summer of MVP-caliber performance in the wood-bat Cal Ripken League after the 2024 season. The following offseason, he posted a strong .265/.393/.510 slash line in 15 Cape Cod League games, further elevating his draft stock.
Perhaps nothing underscored Williamson’s senior year prowess more than his performance in the Auburn Regional. He earned all-tournament honors after delivering a signature display against North Carolina State, hitting three home runs in a single game—the eighth Knights player in program history to accomplish such a feat in one game. He wasted no time against NC State, hammering the first fastball he saw in the night, then launching a 445-foot homer off an off-speed pitch to the bleachers in the fifth inning, followed by a line-drive shot off a breaking ball to cap the scoring in the seventh.
Williamson’s impact at UCF extended beyond raw numbers. He became a steady clubhouse leader and a model of consistency for a program adjusting to life in a new conference. His production and presence on the field and in the room reinforced the Knights’ belief that he could translate his success to the professional ranks, where his combination of lineup savvy, power, and plate discipline could make him a professional mainstay.
As the draft approaches, Williamson’s supporters at UCF and among the Knights faithful are hopeful that his name will be called early, placing him on the path toward fulfilling a lifelong dream. Whether he lands in the first round or the early rounds of the day, Williamson’s resume—highlighted by a telephone-worthy blend of power, contact, and in-game production—suggests a bright future awaits him in professional baseball.