Two months after Sami Williams played in the AUSL Championship with the Chicago Bandits, her older brother got his first taste of the MLB postseason. Luke Williams was on the Atlanta Braves’ roster for the National League Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, which the Braves won two games to one at Truist Park.
It was the first postseason roster of his career. Williams, 30, has played parts of six major league seasons for five clubs and had never been on one.
A surprise addition
Williams spent almost all of 2026 with Triple-A Gwinnett, where he hit .218 with 18 doubles, nine home runs, 31 RBIs and 37 stolen bases in 103 games. He played two games for Atlanta during the regular season and had one plate appearance.
The Braves added him and Rowdy Tellez to the 26-man roster on Sept. 29, the day Game 1 started. Williams’s value is his glove. He has played at least seven major league innings at every position except catcher, including pitcher.
He did not get into a game. Atlanta won Game 1 5-3 on Tuesday, lost Game 2 4-3 on Wednesday and closed the series 6-2 on Thursday with Williams on the bench each night. He was not on the roster for the Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Williams family’s year
Luke was a third-round pick of the Phillies in 2015 and made his major league debut on June 8, 2021. He has since played for the Phillies, Giants, Marlins, Dodgers and Braves.
Sami’s 2026 was the bigger one. The former Iowa State infielder was named AUSL Hitter of the Year after batting .427 with a league-leading 34 RBIs. The Bandits reached the AUSL Championship, where they were swept by the Utah Talons. She is on the Team USA roster for the Japan All-Star Series in November, her first call-up to the national team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sami Williams’s brother?
Luke Williams, a utility player in the Atlanta Braves organization. He was drafted by the Phillies in 2015 and debuted in the majors in 2021.
Did Luke Williams play in the 2026 MLB playoffs?
He was on the Braves’ roster for the Wild Card Series against the Phillies but did not appear in any of the three games. He was left off the roster for the Division Series.
What did Sami Williams do in 2026?
She was the AUSL Hitter of the Year for the Chicago Bandits, hitting .427 with 34 RBIs, and helped the Bandits reach the AUSL Championship.
About the AUSL. The Athletes Unlimited Softball League is a professional softball league with six teams across the U.S. Commissioner Kim Ng leads the league, whose games air on ESPN, ABC, CBS Sports Network and MLB Network.
Sources: AUSL: Sami Williams’s brother Luke on the Braves’ playoff roster; NBC Sports: Braves add Rowdy Tellez, Luke Williams to roster; MLB Stats API box scores and rosters; AUSL: Sami Williams named Hitter of the Year; Featured photo: AUSL.
About Aspen Eighty
Aspen Eighty is a female-founded, independent digital publication covering the Athletes Unlimited Softball League. We publish news, season coverage, and player profiles for all six AUSL teams. Our mission is to amplify women’s professional softball and inspire the next generation of athletes.
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