“I have a few more things to do to reach the ceiling, but we’ll get there. It doesn’t happen overnight, that’s for sure.” That’s what Gavin Williams said—and now the Guardians have earned their Wild Card spot. With Game 1 on deck, the weight of postseason expectation rests on this 26-year-old arm as he will start the game.

“Gavin has been incredible,” said the skipper Vogt. He has worked hard and made steady progress to get to this point. Behind that progress lies a compelling journey from small-town North Carolina to baseball’s biggest stage. Let’s dive into it.

Who is Gavin Williams? Know about him, his background, upbringing and more

Gavin Williams was born on July 26, 1999, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He grew up in Fayetteville, where athletics and community bonds ran deep. He rapidly became a two-sport star at Clinton High School, receiving All-State honors in baseball and showing that he had the potential to be a great player. People noticed him early on because of his strong fastball and quickness.

He decided to go to college in his native state and play baseball for East Carolina University. The Big Rig became known for being tough there, and he had a great senior season despite injuries. His 2021 season, in which he went 10-1 with a 1.88 ERA, got him into the national spotlight, and later he got picked in the first round of the MLB Draft by Cleveland that summer.

How good has Gavin been on the mound? A look at his MLB journey so far

Williams’s journey to the mound began immediately after Cleveland picked him 23rd overall in the 2021 MLB Draft. In the minors, Williams rose rapidly. In nine starts in High-A, he had a 1.40 ERA and struck out 67 batters in 45 innings. He then moved to Double-A, where he had a 2.31 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 70 innings with a record of 3–3. His dominance continued at Triple-A Columbus, where he posted a 2.93 ERA across 9 starts and struck out 61 batters.

And at the time he was picked, his mother shared about Gavin’s journey. She told the reporters, “When all of the scouts started coming to the high school to watch him pitch, and when they started coming to talk to us at the house, it was kind of very stressful.” “And it was like, is this real? This is a little unbelievable. And then, for Gavin, he started going to look at colleges. And when it came to draft time, he was really up in the air about it.”

At the Major League level, Williams has proven he belongs. Williams has shown consistency and improvement for the Guardians. He had a 12-5 record with a 3.06 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 2025. His overall MLB stats include a cumulative ERA of about 3.54, 333 strikeouts, and a WHIP of less than 1.29 in 63 games.

Who are his parents? Meet Cheryl and Laurice Williams

Through every level of his rise, one constant has remained—family support. Gavin’s family, especially his mother, Cheryl, and father, Laurice, has always been a strong foundation for him. His perspective on life and work stems from what his family taught him when he was young: “It was about him getting an education, and everything after that was a bonus, so just staying focused in school and everything would work itself out,” said his father, Laurice.

Cheryl and Laurice Williams have always helped him become who he is today and kept him grounded. They supported his youth sports, pushed him to find a balance between athletics and academics, and taught him humility and resilience as he worked his way up to professional baseball. As their son pitches in Cleveland’s biggest game of the season, the early lessons in perseverance and dedication come together.