Breakout candidate: Giants infielder Wilson
MiLB.com's Breakout Candidate series spotlights players who could garner some serious attention in 2022. Here's a look at Giants’ No. 15 prospect Will Wilson. There's still time for Will Wilson to make the Giants look very clever. The club landed its No. 15 prospect in an interesting deal with the
MiLB.com's Breakout Candidate series spotlights players who could garner some serious attention in 2022. Here's a look at Giants’ No. 15 prospect Will Wilson.
There's still time for Will Wilson to make the Giants look very clever.
The club landed its No. 15 prospect in an interesting deal with the Angels in December 2019. Wilson was the prize in a salary-dump deal that found the Giants paying off the final $12 million of veteran Zack Cozart’s contract. In exchange, they sent cash and eventually left-hander Garrett Williams to the Angels as a player to be named later.
At the time, the move looked like a steal for the Giants. Wilson had just been selected by the Angels with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2019 Draft. And he batted .275 with a .767 OPS and 18 extra-base hits over 46 games for Rookie-level Orem in his first Minor League season.
The pandemic interrupted the natural progression for all Minor Leaguers, and Wilson completed his first full year in 2021. The end results of 100 total games between High-A Eugene and Double-A Richmond weren’t pretty, and things didn’t improve in an increasingly difficult Arizona Fall League season.
Wilson struggled against pitching at the higher levels. He batted .220/.310/.402 overall, but struggled to a .189 average and .587 OPS in 51 games at Double-A. He struck out 137 times total and whiffed in 36.7 percent of his plate appearances for the Flying Squirrels.
Oppo 🌮
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 23, 2021
Will Wilson went the other way for his first spring homer. pic.twitter.com/9H4mUgWj2f
Wilson fell flat in his chance to make up for some misfortune with the Scorpions in the AFL. He batted .164 with a .542 OPS, two homers, three doubles and eight RBIs in 19 games.
Although the late-season woes may have left a bad taste, the Giants seem determined to provide Wilson with a lot of runway to figure things out. He could potentially be their second baseman of the future and a steady double-play partner for No. 5 overall prospect Marco Luciano. Essentially, they bought an extra-first rounder, and now they’re looking to mold him their way and help him find his identity.
Wilson showed the tools of a slower infielder with impressive raw power and a knack for finding the barrel at North Carolina State. He clubbed 39 homers and exclusively stuck at shortstop after 59 games at second base in his freshman season.
But he was unable to display the same kind of power in Double-A. Wilson found some gaps, totaling 22 doubles and a pair of triples across both levels, but he went deep just 15 times -- 10 of which came in his first 49 games with Eugene.
The Giants also challenged him at six different defensive positions in the AFL after he played all but 10 games at shortstop in the regular season.
That’s a lot of moving pieces for a player in his first full professional season in a new organization.
His year didn’t have a simple beginning either. The Giants encouraged him to improve his lateral quickness and agility after he worked with the Major League staff before the shortened 2020 season and at the alternate site.
"He put in a ton of work this offseason. He came in in fantastic shape, and you can see it in the way his body is moving, in particular with his hips and the way they're kind of starting the swing, and then you're seeing the ball carry across the diamond [on throws]," big league skipper Gabe Kapler told reporters, including NBC Sports Bay Area, in March. "It's a talented young player who has some development left, but has impressed every time we've seen him. ... In particular, he came into camp in great shape. He made body changes that we asked him to make and he was diligent throughout the offseason in getting to those changes."
Will Wilson belts his 10th homer of the season, giving the @SFGiants No. 12 prospect a share of the High-A West lead. pic.twitter.com/rhNTSnOj8Q
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 30, 2021
Wilson said he tested out the modern approach to power hitting -- earlier point of contact, emphasis on higher launch angle, swinging up -- during the lost season, but felt comfortable going back to the shorter, direct-to-the-ball approach that had previously worked for him. When he’s off, which he often was against some of the Minors’ best pitchers in Double-A and the AFL, his swing can get a little long. That's when the contact rates go down and the strikeouts pile up.
There was some success for Wilson to draw from in his first full season. He had a strong first month with the Emeralds, batting .289 with five homers, 16 runs scored and 12 RBIs through 83 at-bats in May. Wilson also improved his line-drive rate by more than 3 percent (21.7) after the promotion and maintained a BABIP similar to the .298 mark he sported in Eugene. Those both point to the idea that he was finding barrels when he was making contact.
Reports seem to indicate his defensive future will be at second base. It’s expected that teams will try to maximize a player’s versatility at this stage in their career, but some stability might be good for Wilson.
The 23-year-old should have a more sturdy foundation when he likely returns to Richmond for the 2022 season. The Giants were aggressive with his first promotion as well as 50 at-bats in the Cactus League before he played a game above Rookie ball. So he can certainly play his way into Triple-A this year.
Gerard Gilberto is a reporter for MiLB.com.
Syracuse and Rochester postponed on Friday, doubleheader to be played Saturday at 4:05 p.m.
Syracuse, NY – Friday night's game between the Syracuse Mets and the Rochester Red Wings has been postponed because of inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader on Saturday, May 24th beginning at 4:05 p.m. Game two will begin approximately 40 minutes after
McLean tosses gem, Mets fall to Red Wings, 6-4, on Thursday night
Syracuse, NY – With a chance at a comeback victory in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Syracuse Mets stranded the bases loaded and fell just short in a 6-4 loss to the Rochester Red Wings on a rainy Thursday night at NBT Bank Stadium.
Blackburn shines, Mauricio homers again, and Mets beat Red Wings, 5-2, on Wednesday
Syracuse, NY – Behind a fantastic Major League rehab outing by starting pitcher Paul Blackburn, the Syracuse Mets beat the Rochester Red Wings, 5-2, in front of a raucous Wednesday afternoon crowd at NBT Bank Stadium for Education Day. Blackburn tossed seven shutout innings and only allowed one hit with
Mauricio homers but Syracuse falls to Rochester, 9-4, on Tuesday night
Syracuse, NY – Although the Syracuse Mets outhit the Rochester Red Wings, a nine-run top of the fifth inning was the difference in a 9-4 Mets loss to the Red Wings on Tuesday night at NBT Bank Stadium. Despite the loss, Ronny Mauricio had three hits and two RBIs for
Syracuse comeback falls short in 8-6 loss to Lehigh Valley on Sunday afternoon
Syracuse, NY – Even with a productive day from the lineup, the Syracuse Mets fell to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 8-6, on a windy Sunday afternoon at NBT Bank Stadium. Despite the loss, Ronny Mauricio had two hits in his return to Syracuse after missing all of 2024 and the
Syracuse beats Lehigh Valley, 7-6, on Saturday night
Syracuse, NY – Behind an offensive surge and a stellar start from Joander Suarez, the Syracuse Mets beat the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 7-6, on a rainy Saturday night at NBT Bank Stadium.
Senger and Singleton homer as Syracuse beats Lehigh Valley, 8-5, on Friday night
Syracuse, NY – With a pair of three-run homers, the Syracuse Mets’ offense powered them to an 8-5 win over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Friday night at NBT Bank Stadium. Syracuse hit two three-run home runs in the game en route to the win.
Meneses homers, Mets fall to IronPigs, 7-3, on Thursday night
Syracuse, NY – Although the Syracuse Mets pitching kept them in the game through the eighth inning, the offense didn't muster up enough runs in a 7-3 loss to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Meneses homers but Mets fall to IronPigs, 18-8, in ten innings on Wednesday
Syracuse, NY – In a back-and-forth shootout, the Syracuse Mets fell to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 18-8, in ten innings in front of an electric crowd of 9,969 fans on Wednesday afternoon at NBT Bank Stadium.
Young homers twice but Syracuse falls to Lehigh Valley, 7-3, on Tuesday night
Syracuse, NY – Jared Young homered twice but the Syracuse Mets squandered too many opportunities in a 7-3 loss to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Tuesday night at NBT Bank Stadium. Syracuse allowed four unearned runs to score because of two errors on defense, and the Mets went 0-for-6 with
Syracuse splits series with Jacksonville after 5-2 loss on Sunday
Jacksonville, FL - The Syracuse Mets finished their week in Jacksonville with a series split after a 5-2 loss to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Sunday afternoon at VyStar ballpark. Both teams won three games during the six-game series. Drew Gilbert singled in the game, extending his on-base streak to
Mets fry Jumbo Shrimp, 9-2, on Saturday night
Jacksonville, FL - The Syracuse Mets used a pair of home runs, timely hitting, and strong pitching to beat the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, 9-2, on Saturday night at VyStar Ballpark. The game was delayed 90 minutes in the fourth inning, shortening Blade Tidwell's start on the mound for the Mets,
McLean masterclass leads Syracuse to 4-0 win over Jacksonville on Friday night
Jacksonville, FL - In his Triple-A debut, Syracuse Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean was masterful, throwing seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts as Syracuse beat the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, 4-0, on Friday night at VyStar Ballpark. The seven innings pitched is a career high for McLean and the longest outing
Bullpen stars but Mets fall to Jumbo Shrimp, 3-1, on Thursday night
Jacksonville, FL - Syracuse's bullpen was near-perfect, but the Mets' offense stagnated on Thursday night in a 3-1 lose to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp at VyStar Ballpark. Despite the loss, Syracuse's bullpen pitched five scoreless and hitless innings to keep the game close.
Mets beat Jumbo Shrimp in 11 innings, 6-5, on Wednesday afternoon
Jacksonville, FL - The Syracuse Mets overcame multiple deficits and outlasted the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp for a 6-5 Syracuse win in 11 innings on Wednesday afternoon at VyStar Ballpark. Neither team led by more than two runs in the game with each team leading multiple times throughout the contest.
Mets fall in series-opener to Jumbo Shrimp, 4-3, in ten innings on Tuesday night
Jacksonville, FL - The Syracuse Mets returned to Jacksonville for the first time since 1968 but lost to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, 4-3, in ten innings on Tuesday night at VyStar Ballpark. Luis De Los Santos had three hits and two RBIs for Syracuse in the game.
Felipe De La Cruz named International League Pitcher of the Week
SYRACUSE, NY – Felipe De La Cruz has been named International League Pitcher of the week for the week of April 28-May 4. De La Cruz made his Triple-A debut on May 2nd with the Syracuse Mets against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, throwing six scoreless innings while allowing just one hit,
Syracuse dominates Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 8-2, on Saturday night
Syracuse, NY – With two more fantastic Triple-A pitching debuts and a trio of long balls, the Syracuse Mets beat the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, 8-2, on Saturday night at NBT Bank Stadium.
De La Cruz shines in Triple-A debut as Syracuse beats Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 6-3, on Friday night
Syracuse, NY – In his Triple-A debut, Felipe De La Cruz dazzled with six scoreless innings, leading the Syracuse Mets to a 6-3 victory over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. De La Cruz struck out nine batters during the game and retied the final 17 batters he faced.
Singleton reaches base four times but Mets lose to RailRiders, 19-8, on Thursday night
Syracuse, NY – After a pair of two-out rallies that plated seven runs, the Syracuse Mets still didn't overcome an offensive outburst by the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in a 19-8 loss on a rainy Thursday night at NBT Bank Stadium.
Mets drop Wednesday doubleheader to RailRiders
Syracuse, NY – After a hot weekend of hitting on the road, the Syracuse Mets returned home to chilly temperatures and a cold lineup in a winless doubleheader against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on Wednesday night at NBT Bank Stadium. The Mets dropped the first game, 5-0, and the second matchup,
Syracuse and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre postponed on Tuesday, doubleheader to be played Wednesday at 4:05 p.m.
Syracuse, NY – Tuesday night's game between the Syracuse Mets and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders has been postponed because of inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader on Wednesday, April 30th beginning at 4:05 p.m. Game two will begin approximately 40 minutes after the