C. J. Wilson
Encyclopedia
Christopher John "C. J." Wilson (born November 18, 1980, in Newport Beach, California
) is an American professional baseball
pitcher
. He is a free agent
after playing with the Texas Rangers
from 2005-2011.
(graduating in 1998), Wilson played at Santa Ana Junior College where in 2000 he was named the MVP of the Orange Empire Conference, and awarded the California Junior College
Co-Player of the Year award. Wilson played outfield
, first base, started
, and relieved
at Loyola Marymount University
during the 2001 season.
Wilson was drafted by the Rangers in the fifth round (141st overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
.
After starting the 2001 season in Pulaski of the Appalachian League
he was promoted to Single-A with the Savannah Sand Gnats
. He moved through High-A Charlotte
(Florida State League
) and into Double-A Tulsa
(Texas League
) by late 2002.
For 2003, Wilson returned to Double-A in Frisco
of the Texas League, earning Pitcher of the Week honors in May. His up and down season was cut short due to injury when Dr. Lewis Yocum performed season ending Tommy John surgery
on August 12.
After missing all of 2004 due to the elbow injury, Wilson was able to return to Double-A in 2005 before being called up to the majors later that season. He posted a 1–7 record and 6.94 ERA
in 24 games during his rookie campaign with the Rangers. Later in the season, Texas placed him in the bullpen
full-time where he went 1–2 with a 2.73 ERA in 18 relief appearances.
He started the 2006 season on the 15-day disabled list
with a strained hamstring before returning to the team going 1–2 with a 5.16 ERA with the Rangers before getting optioned to Triple-A on June 1. While in the minors, he went 1–0 with a 2.45 ERA with two saves, and in 11 innings, he struck out
17 and walked
five in nine appearances. After being recalled July 18, Wilson ended the season strong, posting second half numbers of a 3.29 ERA in 24 2/3 innings and 27 appearances and ending the season as the team's top left-handed setup man, posting a 2–4 record and 4.06 ERA overall for Texas. He proved especially tough against lefties, with an ERA of 1.77 with 19 strikeout
s in 20⅓ innings.
Following the trade of Eric Gagné
, Wilson was used to close out games for the Rangers in 2007 converting his first 11 consecutive chances. Overall, he finished with career bests in: ERA (3.03), Appearances (66), Innings (68.1), Strikeouts (63), WHIP (1.21), Holds (15), and Opposing Avg (.208).
He was named the Rangers closer for the 2008 season. He had a 6.06 ERA and converted 24 of 28 save opportunities.
In 2009, Wilson returned to role of set-up man as Frank Francisco
was named the closer. Set new career bests in: Wins (5), Innings (73.2), Appearances (74), ERA (2.81), Strikeouts (84), K/BB ratio (2.61), Holds (19), HR allowed (3) as well as recording 14 saves throughout the year and set a team record for the lowest home ERA for a single season (0.67) .
was asked if Wilson was making the rotation a tough call to which Maddux said "He's making it a great call." Wilson was named the third starting pitcher in the rotation behind Scott Feldman
and Rich Harden
.
At the end of April Wilson was leading the Rangers rotation with an ERA of 1.76 after 4 starts, fourth best in the AL. On May 7 against the Kansas City Royals
, Wilson threw a complete game winning 4–1. It was Wilson's 2nd credited complete game of the year and career, the previous being a rained shortened 6 inning loss to the Yankees. Wilson set 2 club records after his May 13 start against the A's with the most consecutive innings without a home run and most consecutive quality start
s to start a season. Wilson gave up his first home run on May 19 against the Angels' Torii Hunter
after 87 2/3 innings dating back from 2009. Wilson's consecutive quality starts also ended in the same game.
Wilson led the team in wins and ERA while throwing more than 200 innings. He was named the second starter behind Cliff Lee
for the playoffs.
. He threw 104 pitches supported by an Ian Kinsler
home run and RBI single and a Michael Young
3 run home run in the fifth.
Wilson started the ALCS
for the Texas Rangers
and pitched 7 innings allowing 3 runs and 6 hits.
Wilson is just the 6th player in major league baseball history to go eight straight postseason starts without recording a victory.
announced Wilson would be the team's ALDS game one starting pitcher.
In 2011, Wilson was 16–7 with a 2.94 ERA (7th in the American League). He led the league in games started (34), and was 4th in wins, 5th in win-loss percentage (.696), and 6th in strikeouts (206; 6th-most in Rangers history).
, cutter
, slider
, and changeup
, thrown from both overhand and low 3/4 arm angles.
and adheres to a "Straight Edge
" way of life (abstaining from alcohol, illegal drugs, and promiscuous sex in order to maintain health). As a sign of his choice of being Straight Edge, Wilson has the words "Straight Edge" tattooed along the length of his torso, Japanese characters on his shoulder that read "Poison Free" and "XXX" stitched on his blue glove as a straight edge symbol. The blue glove is itself unusual among baseball players (who generally wear a traditional brown-colored glove). Wilson wears the blue glove when the Rangers wear their blue uniforms (or their road grey uniforms); he also has a similarly-decorated red glove when pitching in games where the Rangers wear their alternate red uniforms.
Wilson is highly interested in politics, which he said is in stark contrast to other Major League baseball players in an interview with ESPN.com
's Page 2. His characterizations of typical ballplayers in this same interview and some of his posts on the blog lonestarball.com generated minor controversy within the Rangers' clubhouse.
Wilson races racecars in his free time, and has mentioned he aims to be a professional racer after his baseball career; he also is highly interested in cars, having a collection of Porsches. Wilson won the E1 class in the 2010 25 Hours of Thunderhill.
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
) is an American professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He is a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
after playing with the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
from 2005-2011.
College
After attending Fountain Valley High SchoolFountain Valley High School
Fountain Valley High School is a public high school located in Fountain Valley, California. It was established in 1966 and is a part of the Huntington Beach Union High School District...
(graduating in 1998), Wilson played at Santa Ana Junior College where in 2000 he was named the MVP of the Orange Empire Conference, and awarded the California Junior College
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
Co-Player of the Year award. Wilson played outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
, first base, started
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, and relieved
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
at Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles, California, United States...
during the 2001 season.
Wilson was drafted by the Rangers in the fifth round (141st overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
.
Professional career
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
he was promoted to Single-A with the Savannah Sand Gnats
Savannah Sand Gnats
The Savannah Sand Gnats are a minor league baseball team in Savannah, Georgia and are a member of the A-level South Atlantic League. Since the 2007 season, the Sand Gnats have been an affiliate of the New York Mets.-History:...
. He moved through High-A Charlotte
Charlotte Rangers
The Charlotte Rangers, based in Port Charlotte, Florida, were an American minor league baseball team that existed from 1987 through 2002. The team played at Charlotte County Stadium as a Class A Florida State League affiliate of the Texas Rangers, who at the time made their spring training base in...
(Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
) and into Double-A Tulsa
Tulsa Drillers
The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies major-league club.-Stadium:...
(Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
) by late 2002.
For 2003, Wilson returned to Double-A in Frisco
Frisco RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are currently the Class AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers major league baseball club. The team plays in the Texas League, assigned to the South Division. Prior to 2003, the franchise was based in Shreveport, Louisiana, and were known as the Shreveport Captains...
of the Texas League, earning Pitcher of the Week honors in May. His up and down season was cut short due to injury when Dr. Lewis Yocum performed season ending Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
on August 12.
After missing all of 2004 due to the elbow injury, Wilson was able to return to Double-A in 2005 before being called up to the majors later that season. He posted a 1–7 record and 6.94 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 24 games during his rookie campaign with the Rangers. Later in the season, Texas placed him in the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
full-time where he went 1–2 with a 2.73 ERA in 18 relief appearances.
He started the 2006 season on the 15-day disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
with a strained hamstring before returning to the team going 1–2 with a 5.16 ERA with the Rangers before getting optioned to Triple-A on June 1. While in the minors, he went 1–0 with a 2.45 ERA with two saves, and in 11 innings, he struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
17 and walked
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
five in nine appearances. After being recalled July 18, Wilson ended the season strong, posting second half numbers of a 3.29 ERA in 24 2/3 innings and 27 appearances and ending the season as the team's top left-handed setup man, posting a 2–4 record and 4.06 ERA overall for Texas. He proved especially tough against lefties, with an ERA of 1.77 with 19 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 20⅓ innings.
Following the trade of Eric Gagné
Éric Gagné
Éric Serge Gagné is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent in 1995, Gagné began his career as a starting pitcher...
, Wilson was used to close out games for the Rangers in 2007 converting his first 11 consecutive chances. Overall, he finished with career bests in: ERA (3.03), Appearances (66), Innings (68.1), Strikeouts (63), WHIP (1.21), Holds (15), and Opposing Avg (.208).
He was named the Rangers closer for the 2008 season. He had a 6.06 ERA and converted 24 of 28 save opportunities.
In 2009, Wilson returned to role of set-up man as Frank Francisco
Frank Francisco
Franklin Thomas Francisco is a relief pitcher.-Baseball career:Francisco was originally signed as an amateur free agent by the Boston Red Sox. He was traded by the Red Sox to the Chicago White Sox on July 31, , along with Byeong Hak An in exchange for reliever Bob Howry...
was named the closer. Set new career bests in: Wins (5), Innings (73.2), Appearances (74), ERA (2.81), Strikeouts (84), K/BB ratio (2.61), Holds (19), HR allowed (3) as well as recording 14 saves throughout the year and set a team record for the lowest home ERA for a single season (0.67) .
Return as starter
In 2010, Wilson returned to his past role as a starting pitcher with Texas. Wilson had expressed an interest in returning to the rotation as early as 2006 and was told to report to spring training in condition to start. Early conjecture amongst sports writers and fans covering the Rangers spring training debated if Wilson would actually be able to earn a spot in the rotation. After making several impressive spring starts pitching coach Mike MadduxMike Maddux
Michael Ausley Maddux is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and the pitching coach of the Texas Rangers. He is the older brother of four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux....
was asked if Wilson was making the rotation a tough call to which Maddux said "He's making it a great call." Wilson was named the third starting pitcher in the rotation behind Scott Feldman
Scott Feldman
Scott Feldman was a news anchor for News 12 Long Island for 22 years.-Early life:Feldman was born in St. Louis, Missouri, graduated from the University of Denver in 1971. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves and National Guard....
and Rich Harden
Rich Harden
James Richard Harden is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher.-Early years:Harden attended Claremont Secondary School in Victoria, British Columbia. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 38th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft...
.
At the end of April Wilson was leading the Rangers rotation with an ERA of 1.76 after 4 starts, fourth best in the AL. On May 7 against the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, Wilson threw a complete game winning 4–1. It was Wilson's 2nd credited complete game of the year and career, the previous being a rained shortened 6 inning loss to the Yankees. Wilson set 2 club records after his May 13 start against the A's with the most consecutive innings without a home run and most consecutive quality start
Quality start
In baseball, a quality start is a statistic for a starting pitcher defined as a game in which the pitcher completes at least six innings and permits no more than three earned runs....
s to start a season. Wilson gave up his first home run on May 19 against the Angels' Torii Hunter
Torii Hunter
Torii Kedar Hunter is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.Hunter has taken away many home runs throughout his 13-year major league career by "climbing the fence" in the outfield. He has won nine consecutive Gold Glove Awards as an outfielder.Hunter resides...
after 87 2/3 innings dating back from 2009. Wilson's consecutive quality starts also ended in the same game.
Wilson led the team in wins and ERA while throwing more than 200 innings. He was named the second starter behind Cliff Lee
Cliff Lee
Clifton Phifer "Cliff" Lee is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. Lee has also played for the Cleveland Indians, the Seattle Mariners, and the Texas Rangers....
for the playoffs.
Post-season
In Wilson's first playoff game, he pitched 6.1 innings allowing no runs on two hits, seven strikeouts, and two walks in a 6–0 win in game 2 against the Tampa Rays in the American League Divisional playoff series2010 American League Division Series
The 2010 American League Division Series were two best-of-five game series to determine the participating teams in the 2010 American League Championship Series. The three divisional winners and a fourth "Wild Card" team played in two series from October 6 to October 12...
. He threw 104 pitches supported by an Ian Kinsler
Ian Kinsler
Ian Michael Kinsler is a Major League Baseball All-Star second baseman for the Texas Rangers.Despite having been drafted in only the 17th round out of college, Kinsler has risen to become a two-time All Star, and a member of the Sporting News 2009 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball...
home run and RBI single and a Michael Young
Michael Young
Michael Young, Baron Young of Dartington was a British sociologist, social activist and politician who coined the term "meritocracy"....
3 run home run in the fifth.
Wilson started the ALCS
2010 American League Championship Series
The 2010 American League Championship Series was the best-of-seven game series pitting the winners of the 2010 American League Division Series for the American League Championship. The American League wild card-winning New York Yankees faced the American League Western Division champions Texas...
for the Texas Rangers
2010 Texas Rangers season
The Texas Rangers’ 2010 season was the 50th in franchise history. The team, managed by Ron Washington, won their first division title since 1999 and reached the World Series for the first time in only their fourth playoff appearance. Washington would become only the second manager in franchise...
and pitched 7 innings allowing 3 runs and 6 hits.
Wilson is just the 6th player in major league baseball history to go eight straight postseason starts without recording a victory.
2011
Wilson was a 2011 American League All Star. After the Rangers clinched the AL West on September 23, manager Ron WashingtonRon Washington
Ronald Washington is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and the current manager of the Texas Rangers. Prior to managing the Rangers, Washington coached in the New York Mets and Oakland Athletics organizations.-Playing career:Washington was signed by the Kansas City Royals on July 17, 1970...
announced Wilson would be the team's ALDS game one starting pitcher.
In 2011, Wilson was 16–7 with a 2.94 ERA (7th in the American League). He led the league in games started (34), and was 4th in wins, 5th in win-loss percentage (.696), and 6th in strikeouts (206; 6th-most in Rangers history).
Pitching technique
Wilson's pitching repertoire includes a fastballFastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
, cutter
Cutter
A cutter may refer to several types of nautical vessels. When used in the context of sailing vessels, a cutter is a small single-masted boat, fore-and-aft rigged, with two or more headsails and often a bowsprit. The cutter features a mast set farther back than on a sloop...
, slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
, and changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
, thrown from both overhand and low 3/4 arm angles.
Personal life and beliefs
Wilson is a devoted TaoistTaoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
and adheres to a "Straight Edge
Straight edge
Straight edge is a subculture of hardcore punk whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational drugs. It was a direct reaction to the sexual revolution, hedonism, and excess associated with punk rock. For some, this extends to not engaging in promiscuous sex, following a...
" way of life (abstaining from alcohol, illegal drugs, and promiscuous sex in order to maintain health). As a sign of his choice of being Straight Edge, Wilson has the words "Straight Edge" tattooed along the length of his torso, Japanese characters on his shoulder that read "Poison Free" and "XXX" stitched on his blue glove as a straight edge symbol. The blue glove is itself unusual among baseball players (who generally wear a traditional brown-colored glove). Wilson wears the blue glove when the Rangers wear their blue uniforms (or their road grey uniforms); he also has a similarly-decorated red glove when pitching in games where the Rangers wear their alternate red uniforms.
Wilson is highly interested in politics, which he said is in stark contrast to other Major League baseball players in an interview with ESPN.com
ESPN.com
ESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
's Page 2. His characterizations of typical ballplayers in this same interview and some of his posts on the blog lonestarball.com generated minor controversy within the Rangers' clubhouse.
Wilson races racecars in his free time, and has mentioned he aims to be a professional racer after his baseball career; he also is highly interested in cars, having a collection of Porsches. Wilson won the E1 class in the 2010 25 Hours of Thunderhill.