Luke Williams goes from team USA to walk-off hero, a breakdown
What Happened
The Philadelphia Phillies are trailing the Atlanta Braves 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning. With two outs, the Phillies have the tying run on first base and the go-ahead run stepping to the plate - Luke Williams. Williams' story is an inspiring one, as he was just recently playing for Team USA in the Olympic qualifying rounds, leading the team in hits and playing every position. Now, he's been called up to the big leagues and is making an immediate impact. On the first pitch, Williams takes a called strike. The next offering is a hanging slider, and Williams absolutely crushes it to left field. The Braves' outfielder makes a fantastic catch, but the celebration in the Phillies' dugout is electric. Players are hugging, throwing helmets, and dousing each other with water - pure joy emanating from the Phillies as they witness Williams' walk-off heroics. Williams' family in the stands is equally ecstatic, with his brother ripping off his shirt in celebration and his father high-fiving his mother before trying in vain to do the same with his son. The young fan in the blue shirt makes a brilliant catch of the home run ball, his face alight with shock and excitement. Phillies stars Rhys Hoskins and Bryce Harper rush over to congratulate the new hero, with Harper giving him a big hug in the dugout. As the Phillies drench Williams with ice water and Gatorade, he can barely contain his emotions in the postgame interview. "It's pretty awesome," he says, fighting back tears. "Can't even explain it." This moment will be etched in the memories of Williams, his family, and all the Phillies fans lucky enough to witness the team's new walk-off hero cement his place in the big leagues.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentthe braves are leading the phillies one
nothing bottom ninth
two outs the tying run is on first base
and the go ahead run
is coming to the plate his name is luke
williams and his story is insane he was
absolutely
lighting up aaa for the phillies then
because he wasn't on the 40 man he was
playing for team usa
in the olympic qualifying rounds and he
crushed it
led the team with the most hits plays
every position
so he's lighting it up with the bat
lighten it up with the glove lighten up
aaa he's going to go to japan and play
on the olympic team soon but the
phillies say
no no we'll just have you become a big
leaguer
and a day ago he laid down this bunt to
get his first
hit they throw it away so he starts
running for second he starts digging for
third his family's going crazy
his brother's taking his shirt off
celebrating the right way
dad's going nuts mom's clapping
dad gives mom a high five turns to give
son a high five he's whips his shirt
into his hat no high five he says hi
family hi family hi family hi family
then earlier in the game we're watching
a double his first
big league double gets to second base
the phillies dugouts like do our thing
do our thing do our thing he's like uh
what i don't know what it is what's our
thing
so now he's up smith's on the bump he's
the go-ahead run he's gonna take the
first pitch for a strike i think he
thinks it's inside maybe disagrees joe
west says
strike owen one count looking for
something over the dish he can put in
play just keep it rolling
hanging slider bam bombs it to left
this dude in the blue shirt makes an
absolutely great
catch with it and the celebration is
even better look how happy everyone is
i mean that's just pure joy look at this
hug
i mean he did the wrist grab to secure
it he's squeezing this dude to death
some back bats
let's go that little kid's got a memory
forever
this is the best part look at his face
oh
good pure shock excitement joy
i bet he's blacked out right there
hoskins is like come on baby
throws the helmet up in the air water
bottles to the face
the family and the crowd attaboy luke
yeah bryce harper's gonna come give him
a big old talking to
just a nice little moment between him
and bryce back to the dad who's just
going this
is unbelievable trying to take it in
can't really just uh oh my god
whoa harper's gonna give him a nice real
big hug in the dugout he's got the home
run hat then they're gonna
go ice water right to the head that
looks freezing neris comes up goes water
bottle right to the face
i look like it sucked and then he thinks
he's good
they come back over with two gatorades
they drench him again
he's like all right this is hell
harper's cracking up in the background
just laughing his ass off at him hoskins
trying to put the
thing back on his head and finally they
get to the interview and i'll just let
that play it out because it's awesome
great to have them witness this i mean
what is that like to give them this gift
you're gonna make me cry sorry
just uh can't even explain it
um
it's pretty awesome pretty awesome