Alex Wilson (baseball)

William Alexander Wilson (born November 3, 1986) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers.

Alex Wilson
Wilson with the Detroit Tigers in 2018
Relief pitcher
Born: (1986-11-03) November 3, 1986
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 11, 2013, for the Boston Red Sox
Last MLB appearance
April 27, 2019, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record14–14
Earned run average3.44
Strikeouts226
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
World Baseball Classic
2017 Los Angeles Team

Early life

Wilson was born in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia where his father, Jim Wilson, worked as a geologist for Aramco. Jim played college football in the NAIA at Hanover College before being cut by the Cincinnati Bengals, declining an offer from the Green Bay Packers and returning to graduate school.

The family moved to New Orleans when Wilson was two years old and then moved to Kingsport, Tennessee, where Wilson spent the majority of his youth.[1] Wilson grew up as a Boston Red Sox fan.[2]

Career

College and Minor Leagues

Wilson attended Hurricane High School in Hurricane, West Virginia,[3] then attended Winthrop University. Collegiate Baseball named him the National Freshman Pitcher of the Year in 2006.[2] After the 2007 and 2008 seasons, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[4] In the summer of 2007, he had Tommy John surgery.[5] He transferred to Texas A&M University in January 2008.[5] He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 10th Round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign. He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 2nd Round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. In November 2012, Wilson was added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.[6]

Boston Red Sox

On March 16, 2013, Wilson was optioned to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox to begin the season. He was called up to the Red Sox on April 7 when John Lackey went on the disabled list, and made his Major League debut on April 11. He was optioned to Pawtucket on May 29, and recalled on June 13 when Alfredo Aceves was optioned to Pawtucket.

Wilson pitched in the Major Leagues for parts of the 2013 and 2014 seasons. He threw ​27 2⁄3 innings for the Red Sox in 2013 and posted a 4.88 ERA. He performed much better in his ​28 1⁄3 Major League innings in 2014, recording a 1.91 ERA.

Wilson pitching for the Boston Red Sox in 2014

Detroit Tigers

On December 11, 2014, the Red Sox traded Wilson along with Gabe Speier and Yoenis Céspedes to the Detroit Tigers for Rick Porcello.[7]

On May 27, 2015, Alex Wilson made his first career major league start for the Detroit Tigers, against the Oakland Athletics, throwing 52 pitches in 3 scoreless innings. Detroit went on to win 3–2.

On July 30, 2015, Wilson earned his first major league save, getting the final five outs in a 9–8 Tigers win over the Baltimore Orioles.[8] For the season, he pitched 70 innings (including a team-high 67 in relief), with 16 games finished, 2 saves, a 2.19 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP.

During the 2016 season, Wilson set career highs with 62 appearances and 73 innings, while posting a 4–0 record with a 2.96 ERA, with 49 strikeouts and 21 walks.

On January 13, 2017, the Tigers avoided arbitration with Wilson, agreeing on a one-year, $1.175 million contract.[9] On August 25, Wilson was ejected for the first time in his Major League career after hitting Todd Frazier with a pitch. This followed after Miguel Cabrera and Austin Romine were ejected for triggering a bench-clearing brawl and after Dellin Betances was also ejected for the first time in his Major League career after hitting James McCann with a pitch. The next day, August 25, Wilson was suspended for four games. He appealed, and had the suspension reduced to three games, which he sat out beginning on September 2.[10]

On September 23, 2017, Wilson sustained a non-displaced fractured right fibula after he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Joe Mauer, ending his season. During the 2017 season, Wilson posted a 2–5 record, 4.35 ERA, and 42 strikeouts in 60 innings pitched.[11][12]

On January 17, 2018, the Tigers avoided arbitration with Wilson, agreeing on a one-year, $1.925 million contract.[13] In a game on May 7, 2018, Wilson hurt his foot covering first base, and was later diagnosed with a plantar fascia strain. He was placed on the 10-day disabled list the next day.[14] He returned to action for the Tigers on June 7.[15] For the 2018 season, Wilson pitched ​61 2⁄3 innings, posting a 3.36 ERA and 43 strikeouts. On November 30, 2018, the Tigers non-tendered Wilson and he elected free agency.[16]

Milwaukee Brewers

Wilson signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians on February 9, 2019.[17] The deal included an invitation to the Indians' major league spring training camp. He opted out of his contract with the Indians on March 21, 2019 after being informed he would not make the opening day major league roster.[18]

Wilson signed with the Milwaukee Brewers on March 24.[19] He was designated for assignment on April 29, 2019 and outrighted on May 1. He was released by the organization on August 3, 2019.

Chicago Cubs

On August 5, 2019, Wilson signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs. He became a free agent following the 2019 season.[20]

Return to Detroit

On January 4, 2020, Wilson signed a minor-league contract with the Detroit Tigers with an invitation to spring training.[21][22]

On June 25, 2020, the Tigers released Wilson.

Wilson announced his retirement from professional baseball on July 28, 2020, and joined the Ballengee Group as an advisor.[23]

Pitch selection

Wilson throws three primary pitches. He has a four-seam fastball that averages 92 mph (tops out at 97 mph), a two-seam fastball at 88-92 mph (tops out at 96 mph), and a slider in the 86-89 mph range (tops out at 91 mph). The two-seam fastball is used as both a cutter and a sinker. He throws the cutter more than any other pitch. Wilson also throws an occasional curveball and changeup.[24]

Personal life

Wilson played high school baseball at Hurricane High School where he won a state championship in 2002.

Wilson is the second Saudi-born player in MLB history, after Craig Stansberry.[3]

Wilson is married to Kristin Wilson, and they have four children, son Jhett and daughters Rosie, Whelynn, and Hazel.[25]

References
  1. Dorsey, David (February 29, 2012). "Alex Wilson hopes for spot on Boston Red Sox pitching staff". Mass Live. The Republican. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  2. AG (January 12, 2012). "Hot Stove Party Invitees – Alex Wilson". 45 Miles from Fenway. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2013-05-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  5. "Wilson Joins Aggie Baseball Program". January 14, 2008. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  6. "Red Sox add six players to 40-man roster". November 20, 2012.
  7. "In separate deals, Tigers land Cespedes, Simon". MLB.com. December 11, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  8. Ginsburg, David (July 30, 2015). "Depleted Tigers get 16 hits and squeeze past Orioles 9-8". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  9. Beck, Jason (January 13, 2017). "Tigers maintain streak, agree to deals with six". MLB.com. Retrieved January 13, 2017.
  10. "Cabrera serves ban after 1-game reduction". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
  11. Beck, Jason (September 23, 2017). "Wilson fractures leg after being hit by liner". MLB.com. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  12. Woodbery, Evan (September 23, 2017). "Numbness, warmth, then shooting pain: Alex Wilson's season ends with bad break". Mlive. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  13. Beck, Jason (January 17, 2018). "Tigers avoid arbitration with Iglesias". MLB.com. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  14. Rogacki, Rob (May 8, 2018). "Jordan Tigers place Alex Wilson, Jordan Zimmermann on 10-day disabled list". blessyouboys.com. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  15. Day, Brandon (June 7, 2018). "Detroit Tigers News: Alex Wilson returns, Zimmermann soon to follow". blessyouboys.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  16. Henning, Lynn (December 1, 2018). "Tigers bid farewell to non-tendered casualties McCann and Wilson". The Detroit News. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  17. "Indians invite OF Matt Joyce & RHP Alex Wilson to Major League camp". Indians.com. February 9, 2019.
  18. "Alex Wilson: Opts out of deal". CBSSports.com. March 20, 2019.
  19. https://madison.com/sports/baseball/professional/brewers-add-veteran-alex-wilson-to-ailing-bullpen/article_306a6bf7-1f71-5353-9e6d-f824686c6216.html
  20. Matt Eddy (November 7, 2019). "Minor League Free Agents 2019". Baseball America. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  21. McCosky, Chris (January 5, 2020). "'Where I want to be': Tigers bring back reliever Alex Wilson on minor-league deal". The Detroit News. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  22. Beck, Jason (January 5, 2020). "Wilson rejoins Tigers -- with unusual goal". MLB.com. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  23. "Longtime Tigers reliever announces retirement". MLive.com. July 28, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  24. "Alex Wilson PitchFX at FanGraphs.com". fangraphs.com. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  25. "Alex Wilson Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
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