Josh Wilson
Encyclopedia
Joshua Aaron Wilson is an American professional baseball shortstop
for the Atlanta Braves
of Major League Baseball
. Wilson was nicknamed "The Paperboy" by Ken Griffey Jr. While he was with the Devil Rays, Diamondbacks, and Padres, he pitched in at least one game with each team. Wilson is a Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania
native. He was part of the 1998 Pennsylvania state championship baseball team and Pennsylvania Player of the Year. (Mt. Lebanon)
in third round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
. Wilson passed up a scholarship
to Louisiana State University
to sign with the Marlins. He received a $400,000 signing bonus
. Wilson began his professional career with the Gulf Coast League Marlins. Wilson batted
.266 with 54 hits
, 9 doubles
, 4 triples
, 27 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases in 53 games. On the team, Wilson was first in plate appearances (237), at-bats (203), hits; was tied for first in runs
(29), triples; and was second in doubles, and RBIs. In 2000, Wilson split the season between the Class-A Short-Season Utica Blue Sox
of the New York – Penn League, and the Class-A Kane County Cougars
of the Midwest League
. With the Blue Sox, Wilson batted .344 with 89 hits, 13 doubles, 6 triples, 3 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 9 stolen bases in 66 games. Wilson was second in the New York—Penn League in batting average, and was tied for second in hits. After his stint with the Blue Sox, Wilson was promoted to the Kane County Cougars. With the Cougars, he batted .269 with 14 hits, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, and 6 RBIs in 13 games. The next season, 2001, Wilson played for the Class-A Kane County Cougars. He batted .285 with 144 hits, 28 doubles, 5 triples, 4 home runs, 61 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases in 123 games. Wilson was second on the Cougars in doubles, and caught stealing
(11); and was third in games played, plate appearances (546), at-bats (506), hits, doubles, and stolen bases. Wilson was called up to the Marlins in September 2005.
for a player to be named later. Wilson missed the first part of the 2006 season after being placed on the 60-day disabled list
with a broken toe. At the end of the season, he became a free agent
and was signed by the Washington Nationals
.
on May 10, 2007, and appeared in 90 games for them during the season. On December 3, 2007, he was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
On June 8, 2007, Wilson pitched a scoreless 8th inning in a relief
pitching appearance against the Florida Marlins in a 14-8 loss.
and assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Pawtucket Red Sox
. Wilson's acquisition by the Sox completed a three team deal which sent Manny Ramirez
to the Los Angeles Dodgers
from the Red Sox, Jason Bay
to the Red Sox from the Pirates and infielder Andy LaRoche
, and pitcher
Bryan Morris
from the Dodgers, and outfielder
Brandon Moss
and pitcher Craig Hansen
from the Red Sox to the Pirates. In December 2008, he signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks
. While on the Diamondbacks he helped turn a triple play against the Dodgers and was once again used as a relief pitcher, throwing a 90 mph fastball.
on waivers on May 15.
On June 7, 2009, he pitched for the Padres against the Diamondbacks in the 18th inning of an extra inning game. He allowed a three-run, opposite field, game-winning home run to Mark Reynolds
on an 88-MPH, cut fastball. He was the losing pitcher in a 9-6 Diamondbacks win. It was the second pitching appearance of the season for Wilson, who also pitched a scoreless 9th inning for the Diamondbacks against the Cincinnati Reds
on May 11.
. While with the Seattle Mariners, he was affectionately nicknamed "The Paperboy" by Ken Griffey Jr. With the Mariners in '09 he hit .250 with eight doubles, one triple, three home runs and 10 RBIs in 45 games giving him a combined average of .219 with 42 hits in 72 games between Arizona, San Diego and Seattle. Then on December 10, 2009 Wilson re-signed with the Mariners. On December 10, 2010 Wilson resigned with the Mariners to the tune of $725,000.
On March 28, 2011, the Mariners released Wilson.
on May 25, 2011. In only his second appearance for the Brewers, Wilson hit a home run. Only a week later he hit his 2nd and 3rd homers.
on November 22, 2011.
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. Wilson was nicknamed "The Paperboy" by Ken Griffey Jr. While he was with the Devil Rays, Diamondbacks, and Padres, he pitched in at least one game with each team. Wilson is a Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Mt. Lebanon is a home rule municipality, formerly a township, in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 33,137 at the 2010 census....
native. He was part of the 1998 Pennsylvania state championship baseball team and Pennsylvania Player of the Year. (Mt. Lebanon)
Florida Marlins
Wilson was drafted by the Florida MarlinsFlorida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
in third round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
1999 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1999...
. Wilson passed up a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
to sign with the Marlins. He received a $400,000 signing bonus
Signing bonus
A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee by a company as an incentive to join that company. They are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive to the employee, e.g., if the annual salary is lower than he or she desires...
. Wilson began his professional career with the Gulf Coast League Marlins. Wilson batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.266 with 54 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 9 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 4 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 27 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases in 53 games. On the team, Wilson was first in plate appearances (237), at-bats (203), hits; was tied for first in runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(29), triples; and was second in doubles, and RBIs. In 2000, Wilson split the season between the Class-A Short-Season Utica Blue Sox
Utica Blue Sox
The Utica Blue Sox were a minor league baseball team based in Utica, New York. In their most recent incarnation, the Blue Sox played in the Short-Season A classification New York - Penn League from 1977-2001, with their home games at Donovan Stadium at Murnane Field...
of the New York – Penn League, and the Class-A Kane County Cougars
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Kansas City Royals, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home games are played in Geneva, Illinois, about 35 miles west of Chicago....
of the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
. With the Blue Sox, Wilson batted .344 with 89 hits, 13 doubles, 6 triples, 3 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 9 stolen bases in 66 games. Wilson was second in the New York—Penn League in batting average, and was tied for second in hits. After his stint with the Blue Sox, Wilson was promoted to the Kane County Cougars. With the Cougars, he batted .269 with 14 hits, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, and 6 RBIs in 13 games. The next season, 2001, Wilson played for the Class-A Kane County Cougars. He batted .285 with 144 hits, 28 doubles, 5 triples, 4 home runs, 61 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases in 123 games. Wilson was second on the Cougars in doubles, and caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
(11); and was third in games played, plate appearances (546), at-bats (506), hits, doubles, and stolen bases. Wilson was called up to the Marlins in September 2005.
Colorado Rockies
On January 6, , he was traded to the Colorado RockiesColorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
for a player to be named later. Wilson missed the first part of the 2006 season after being placed on the 60-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 broken toe. At the end of the season, he became 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....
and was signed by the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
.
Nationals, Rays and Pirates
In , Wilson appeared in 15 games for the Nationals before they placed him on waivers. He was claimed by the Tampa Bay Devil RaysTampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
on May 10, 2007, and appeared in 90 games for them during the season. On December 3, 2007, he was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
On June 8, 2007, Wilson pitched a scoreless 8th inning in a relief
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...
pitching appearance against the Florida Marlins in a 14-8 loss.
Red Sox and Diamondbacks
In August 2008, Wilson was acquired by the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
and assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
. Wilson's acquisition by the Sox completed a three team deal which sent Manny Ramirez
Manny Ramírez
Manuel "Manny" Arístides Ramírez Onelcida is a retired Dominican-American professional baseball outfielder. He was recognized for great batting skill and power, a nine-time Silver Slugger and one of 25 players to hit 500 career home runs. Ramirez's 21 grand slams are third all-time, and his 28...
to the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
from the Red Sox, Jason Bay
Jason Bay
Jason Raymond Bay is a Canadian professional baseball player. An outfielder, he currently plays for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball...
to the Red Sox from the Pirates and infielder Andy LaRoche
Andy LaRoche
Andrew Christian LaRoche is an American professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent....
, and 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...
Bryan Morris
Bryan Morris
Avery Bryan Morris is a baseball pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He is currently the starting pitcher for the Altoona Curve, the Pirates Double A affiliate in the Eastern League.-Professional career:...
from the Dodgers, and outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Brandon Moss
Brandon Moss
Brandon Douglas Moss is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball.-Professional career:...
and pitcher Craig Hansen
Craig Hansen
Craig Robert Hansen is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. A closer out of St. John's University, Hansen was drafted in and quickly made his major league debut, but has since spent most of his career at the Triple-A level...
from the Red Sox to the Pirates. In December 2008, he signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. While on the Diamondbacks he helped turn a triple play against the Dodgers and was once again used as a relief pitcher, throwing a 90 mph fastball.
San Diego Padres
Wilson was designated for assignment on May 14 by the Diamondbacks and was picked up by the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
on waivers on May 15.
On June 7, 2009, he pitched for the Padres against the Diamondbacks in the 18th inning of an extra inning game. He allowed a three-run, opposite field, game-winning home run to Mark Reynolds
Mark Reynolds (baseball)
Mark Andrew Reynolds is a third baseman/first baseman in Major League Baseball who plays for the Baltimore Orioles. He is known both for his power-hitting abilities and for his record-breaking strike out totals...
on an 88-MPH, cut fastball. He was the losing pitcher in a 9-6 Diamondbacks win. It was the second pitching appearance of the season for Wilson, who also pitched a scoreless 9th inning for the Diamondbacks against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
on May 11.
Seattle Mariners
On June 19, Wilson was claimed off waivers by the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. While with the Seattle Mariners, he was affectionately nicknamed "The Paperboy" by Ken Griffey Jr. With the Mariners in '09 he hit .250 with eight doubles, one triple, three home runs and 10 RBIs in 45 games giving him a combined average of .219 with 42 hits in 72 games between Arizona, San Diego and Seattle. Then on December 10, 2009 Wilson re-signed with the Mariners. On December 10, 2010 Wilson resigned with the Mariners to the tune of $725,000.
On March 28, 2011, the Mariners released Wilson.
Return to Arizona
On March 31, 2011, Wilson reportedly agreed to a minor league contract. Wilson had his contract purchased by Arizona on April 25. He was designated for assignment on May 23.Milwaukee Brewers
He was claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on May 25, 2011. In only his second appearance for the Brewers, Wilson hit a home run. Only a week later he hit his 2nd and 3rd homers.
Atlanta Braves
Wilson signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
on November 22, 2011.
External links
- SoxProspects biography
- Baseball-Now Player Profile