MILWAUKEE – Phillies outfielder Nick Williams' plentiful talent helped him rise through the minor leagues as a top prospect.

However, Williams wasn't known as guy who was always busting it down the first base line. Williams was benched multiple times last season with the IronPigs, in part because of his failure to run hard on ground outs.

"It's all part of maturing," Williams said Friday. "You have to go through it to really learn."

It was a tough lesson, one that brought plenty of scrutiny. Williams was still answering questions asked about those issues during spring training.

It didn't truly click, though, until a conversation earlier this season left a lasting impact on Williams, whose effort on the bases since being called up in late June has been noticeable.

Williams, then at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, spoke with first-year manager Dusty Wathan and was informed of his less-than-stellar times running home to first base.

"Ever since that day I told myself I was going to run," Williams said. "There were a few times in Lehigh where I was getting hits and I was like, 'Whoa.' Or making the outfielder bobble the ball just from rounding really hard.

"It showed you can turn the smallest things into something that can change the game."

It's a mentality he's brought with him to Philadelphia.

At this point, Williams considers it second nature. If a ball is hit to second base, he runs as hard as he would on a ball hit in the gap.

"It's kind of weird hearing some people say, 'I didn't know you were that fast,'" Williams said. "I'm like, 'What?'"

The Phillies' coaches have noticed, too.

During the Phillies' game against the Padres July 7 at Citizens Bank Park, manager Pete Mackanin and bench coach Larry Bowa took note when Williams secured a double thanks to his hustle.

"I'm glad to see him hustling because that's something he's got to do," Mackanin said. "The test will be three, four years down the road if and when he has some success that he continues to play like that and not fall into that trap."

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First base coach Mickey Morandini wasn't sure what to expect from Williams. He coached the outfielder for a few weeks at Double-A Reading in 2015 where there would be times Williams wouldn't run balls out.

"But he's been fantastic," Morandini said. "He's run everything out hard – fly balls, ground balls. I've been impressed.

"That's the way it should be done so I can't really say he's going above and beyond, but that's what we want out of our base runners," he added.

Williams, who entered Saturday's game against the Brewers hitting .250 with a .300 on-base percentage, wants to become known as a player who plays hard. The 23 year old expects to beat out a couple infield hits while with the Phillies this season.

The positive reinforcement he's received from coaches has been a welcomed change from past seasons.

"I'm young and have a good body, I might as well use it while I can and just go all out," Williams said.

"I'm just trying to make things happen – help push the momentum."

Consistently hustling out of the box and around the bases also helps third base coach Juan Samuel.

Williams' speed and commitment to running hard makes Samuel's job easier. Samuel is much more likely to wave Williams home on hard-hit balls to an outfielder. He knows he can take a chance with Williams compared to some other Phillies.

Someone like Odubel Herrera could learn something from watching Williams.

"That's what you hope for," Samuel said.

Williams' speed is an asset for a Phillies lineup that features few of those kind of players. Combined with still improving defense, Williams will have an opportunity to showcase what he can do with regular playing time.

"Players have to self motivate," Mackanin said. "That's the kind of guys we're looking for that you don't have to motivate. They motivate themselves. Hopefully he's one of those guys."