Ethan Wilson: From Small-Town Talent to Professional Ball Player

The winning run was 90 feet away, in a 6-6 game in the bottom of the ninth inning with no outs. After dropping four of their last five games to the Akron RubberDucks, Reading desperately needed a win to boost the team’s confidence heading into the All-Star Break. Ethan Wilson stepped to the plate 0-for-3 on the day. The Fightins outfielder poked an RBI single to right center field, giving the Fightins their second walk-off victory of the season.

The 24-year-old outfielder grew up in Andalusia, Alabama, and fell in love with sports from a young age. With not much to do in his small town, along with his dad who coached football and baseball, Wilson was always around the field. In high school, he was a three-sport athlete and played football, basketball, and baseball. At Andalusia High School, he helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2018 Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 4A state championship as a senior.

Wilson attended the University of South Alabama and slashed .322/.415/.574 with 161 hits, 27 homers, 105 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases through 129 games. The Phillies drafted him in the second round of the 2021 draft. “It was amazing,” said Wilson. “It was kind of like all the hard work and the sacrifices that my parents both made for me to get there kind of paid off… It was the best day of my life.”

The Alabama native is in his second full season with the Fightin Phils. He was promoted to Reading on August 25, 2022 from High-A JerseyShore. In his first 18 games in Double-A, he hit .214 with 15 hits including two doubles, a home run and three RBI. Wilson returned to Reading in 2023, and was in the Opening Day lineup as the 14th top-prospect of the Phillies. He appeared in 114 games and finished the season a .250 hitter with 105 hits, 17 homers, and 61 RBI.

After two seasons of consistent development, Wilson faced an untimely setback amid Spring Training 2024. The left-handed outfielder underwent appendectomy surgery.

“It was tough the first couple weeks not being able to do anything… I have a really good support system back home, my family, my wife so it wasn’t as hard as it seems like.”

Wilson was reinstated from the Fightins injured list on April 25. He spoke about his comeback, as he felt pressured to catch up to his teammates' regimen. “I’m just trying to take it one day at a time.”

As of late, Wilson’s bat has produced in big spots. He was the walk off hero on July 14, as he powered the Fightins to a 7-6 win over Akron. Since July 14, he is slashing .286/.333/.357 and went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI singles on July 21 in Reading’s 8-2 win over Portland. Wilson hit back-to-back homers vs Bowie on June 27-28, his first long-balls since August 31, 2023.

Ultimately, Wilson spoke of his knowing his worth not only as a professional athlete, but as a Christian. “I do care what happens here. I want to have success here but at the end of the day, I’m a man of God first so that's what keeps me grounded and helps me to realize this is just a game at the end of the day.”