Milwaukee Brewers Draft Florissant Native in MLB Draft

Another Hazelwood West baseball player has an opportunity to go to the big leagues.

Thursday night, the Milwaukee Brewers drafted Wildcats right-hand pitcher Devin Williams in the second round at No. 54. This was the first pick for the Brewers as the team forfeited its first-round draft pick due to the signing of a free agent, according to a WDJT Sports report.

Williams, a Florissant native, was 4-1 with a 0.70 ERA in six starts for the Hazelwood West Wildcats.

MaxPreps ranks him No. 47 with its "Top 100 baseball seniors of the 2013 season."

He has committed to play at the University of Missouri as a freshman in the fall, but he picked up a lot of attention from Major League for his 90-mph fastball this year.

In the past few days, analysts had predicted Williams could go as high as top 20 in the first round and go to teams such as the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals.

When asked on Twitter by @jeffstahlhut about possibly joining the St. Louis Cardinals organization, he responded simply: doesn't matter to me, I just wanna play ball.

Grandmother Sue Mottert said earlier Thursday afternoon she would be watching with friends and family, but they were all very excited.

“He’s always been into sports, especially baseball.” “He always had a ball in his hand of some kind.”

Williams couldn’t hide his excitement on Twitter as he posted earlier in the day: 18 years waiting for this day and it's finally here. #MLBDraft ⚾❤

The news of Williams' pick up by the Brewers spread on social media and prompted lots of good wishes and congratulatory messages to him and his family. 

Michelle Ward Johnson wrote on Florissant Patch Facebook page: "Good things happen to great people!!!!! He has worked his tail off to get there with the love and support of his mother, sisters & grandparents!!!!! Great Work DEVIN we are all so PROUD OF YOU!!!!!"