Long before the Brewers reliever was the National League Rookie of the Year, Williams was a St. Louis kid contemplating breaking up with baseball.
His friends had veered toward basketball and football. Soccer had caught his eye. Mottert, who is like a grandfather to Williams, kept buying Williams baseball gear.
The most befuddling reliever NL hitters faced last season was back in his hometown Wednesday, passing out boxes of food, bags of pandemic essentials and baseball gear to those in need.
For Williams, it was a day to look back and look ahead.
Look at how far he’s come.