Jerome Williams

Jerome will be the High Wheelers Pitching Coach in 2024. He has the reputation of being an outstanding communicator who blends his 25 years of coaching and playing experience with his knowledge of technology that MLB teams use to help develop their players. He was born and raised in Hawaii and was the 1999 Hawaii High School Player of the Year.

He made history becoming the first player Hawaiian-born player to appear in the Major Leagues for the San Francisco Giants (2003) and Washington Nationals (2007).

His professional coaching career began in 2019 when the New York Mets hired him to be the Pitching Coach for their Short-Season A team in Kingsport (TN). In 2020 he was slotted to move up to the Single-A team in Columbia (SC) but due to the Minor League season being cancelled, he helped coach the Mets pitchers at their alternate training site in Brooklyn (NY). In 2021 he was with the Single-A Mets in St. Lucie (FL) and that off-season coached in the prestigious Arizona Fall League with the Salt River Rafters. He moved up to the Mets AA affiliate in Binghamton (NY) in 2022. Jerome helped 5 players make their debut in the Major Leagues during his time with the Mets. Most recently he was the Pitching Coach in the MLB Draft League with the State College Spikes in 2023.

Jerome was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 1st round of the 1999 MLB Draft. He was voted their top Minor League prospect in 2001 and 2002. He went on play for 20 seasons professionally which includes 11 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Giants, Chicago Cubs, Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Angels, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, and St. Louis Cardinals. He logged 1029.2 innings, made 236 appearances (149 starts), and won 52 games in the big leagues. In addition to his time in the minor leagues, Jerome also played in China, Venezuela, and Mexico. Over his 20 year career he pitched 2532.1 innings, appeared in 582 games (385 starts), and won 137 games.

During his playing career Jerome was known for wearing a puka shell necklace on the field to honor his mother Deborah who passed away from breast cancer in 2001. He was also recognized for his pink glove which was a tradition he started in 2011 to raise awareness for breast cancer. Jerome and his wife Sarah have 4 children and they live in Mission Viejo, CA.