Editing Matt Williams (third baseman) (section)

===San Francisco Giants (1987–1996)===
Williams was recalled to the majors for the first time on April 11, 1987, serving as an injury replacement for [[José Uribe]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 11, 1987 |title=Baseball Central |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/04/11/Baseball-Central/5870545112000/ |access-date=January 1, 2025 |website=[[United Press International]] |language=en}}</ref> That day, he appeared in his first MLB game, going 1-for-3 in a 5–1 loss to the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]. Williams' first major league hit was an eighth-inning single off Dodgers pitcher [[Orel Hershiser]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 11, 1987 |title=San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score: April 11, 1987 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN198704110.shtml |access-date=January 1, 2025 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> He finished the season batting .188 with eight home runs and 21 RBI in 84 games. In the field, he primarily played shortstop while also playing some games at third base.<ref name="baseball-reference.com3">{{Cite web |title=Matt Williams Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/willima04.shtml |access-date=June 28, 2023 |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Prior to the 1989 season, Williams was named as the starting third baseman for the Giants. However, he struggled to begin the season with a .130 batting average, and was optioned to the Triple-A [[Phoenix Firebirds]] after the Giants' game on May 1.<ref name=":02" /> Williams considered this demotion as a turning point in his career, as he batted .320 with 26 home runs and 61 RBI in 76 games before returning to San Francisco in July.<ref name=":02" /> In 84 games with the Giants, Williams hit .202, but managed to record 18 home runs and 50 RBI.<ref name="baseball-reference.com3" />

Williams enjoyed a breakout season in 1990, finishing with a .277 average, 33 home runs and a [[National League (baseball)|National League]]-leading 122 RBI en route to making the National League All-Star team.<ref name="baseball-reference.com3" />

Despite suffering from several leg injuries and some lower-back ailments, Williams was an excellent fielder at third base, and a dangerous and productive hitter. As a third baseman, Williams had good reflexes and excellent hands, with a quick release and strong, accurate arm. During his career, he earned four [[Gold Glove Award|Gold Glove Awards]], all between 1991 and 1997.<ref name="baseball-reference.com3" />

A hitter with exceptional power, Williams hit at least 30 home runs and recorded at least 90 RBI in four of his seasons with the Giants.<ref name="baseball-reference.com3" /> His best season was 1994 when he hit a National League-best 43 home runs and had 96 RBI in only 112 games as the Major League Baseball season was shortened by nearly one-third because of a season-ending [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|strike by Major League baseball players]].<ref name="baseball-reference.com3" /> He was on pace to challenge the single season home run record of 61, at the time held by [[Roger Maris]], with his 43 home runs in 115 games, projecting to 60.6 home runs at season's end. Williams finished second in the voting for the [[National League Most Valuable Player Award]] that year behind first baseman [[Jeff Bagwell]] of the [[Houston Astros]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Janey |title=Bagwell named NL MVP after strike-shortened season |url=https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/bagwell-named-mvp-after-strike-shortened-season |access-date=January 1, 2025 |website=[[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]]}}</ref>