Nick Williams is making great strides for the Phillies this spring

Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsHe didn’t get called up to the Majors. He pressed and turned his season from a disappointment into a disaster. And he was benched multiple times for issues dealing with his attitude.

It was an awful, horrible, no-good, very bad year for Nick Williams in 2016. But that’s why his performance this spring has been so encouraging.

During his time in big league camp, Williams is playing like a top-100 prospect, hitting homers, making spectacular defensive plays and, most importantly, showing the kind of plate discipline that has eluded him for large stretches of his pro career.

Before we get to the most encouraging stuff, let’s take a quick look at the flashiest play…