The Athletics' 2026 season didn't turn out the way that they had hoped it would when the year began, but lost in the swath of injuries and misfortune that followed the club were some players who received opportunities that they likely wouldn't have received otherwise.

One of those players was shortstop Alika Williams, who wasn't even in the A's organization when the season began. The 27-year-old was acquired in an under-the-radar trade back in mid-May that sent right-handed prospect Kyle Robinson to the Pittsburgh Pirates four days after the team placed Jacob Wilson on the IL with a left shoulder dislocation. 

At the time, Williams was viewed as a depth option behind Darell Hernaiz since the A's didn't have a bona fide shortstop who could give Hernaiz a day off at the time, with Max Muncy also on the IL. Williams provided that depth and then worked his way into a bigger role at the end of June when Wilson landed back on the IL.

On the year, Williams hit .270 with a .307 OBP and a 96 wRC+ (100 is league average). He was also aided slightly by a .333 BABIP, and his expected batting average was just .217, but his fielding graded out as above average at shortstop (+2 DRS) and second base (+4 DRS). A league-average bat with a solid glove is certainly the type of player the A's need more of if they hope to become competitive in 2027. 

The question is whether Williams will be able to repeat those numbers next season. 

Before the season ended, Williams told Athletics Roundtable that even though he didn't play in the big leagues in 2025, it was the most important year of his career, because he was able to go back to the drawing board and spend the whole year getting consistent at-bats. 

"It was a lot of change last year, and we're still working out some of those kinks, but it was nice to see some results," Williams said. 

His main changes came in his setup, where he had gotten away from using his hands in his swing. The goal with the changes was to be more loose, flowy, and athletic. 

"We think less movement is more sometimes, but you kind of take away the athleticism of the baseball swing," Williams said. "I think just getting back to being an athlete in the box, I think that's the biggest thing." 

While Jeff McNeil is responsible for the pool table inside of the A's home clubhouse in Sacramento, it was Williams who may have been the best player on the team. 

Shooting pool was the team's favorite activity throughout the season, and for new guys like Williams, it was seemingly a good way to socialize in a smaller group to begin fitting into a brand-new clubhouse after the season had begun. 

This was by far the most consistent playing time Williams has received in the big leagues, appearing in 88 games with the A's in 2026, generating 231 plate appearances. It also may not guarantee him a spot on the roster come opening day.

Over the course of the final month of the season, manager Mark Kotsay mentioned the organization needing to build up the club's depth, so that when the team goes through injuries, they have MLB-caliber players ready to step in. Williams showed he is MLB-caliber in 2026, but does that mean that he's a bench player? He very well could be the way the roster is composed right now, but that spot may not be guaranteed.

One factor that works out well for the A's but may not for Williams is that he still has two option years remaining, meaning they could start him in the minor leagues — as depth — while Donovan Walton (who is out of options) or another acquisition gets that big-league bench role. 

Williams certainly put himself in the conversation for a roster spot, but whether or not he ends up with one will be determined by the team's offseason. 

"This group is amazing," Williams said at the end of the season. "It was some of the most fun I've had on the field. I don't know if you guys could tell, [but] I couldn't stop smiling out there."