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Published on: 7/13/2008
Last Visited: 7/13/2008
Mike Wilson had a decision to make.
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Attend the University of Oklahoma on a football scholarship or go into the Seattle Mariners organization as a second-round draft pick in the 2001 MLB Draft.
"Baseball was always my first love," Wilson said."Football was something that I stumbled on when I was small, playing with my friends.I didn't really see myself playing (football) in college or in the NFL."
Fast forward seven years and the Tulsa, Okla., native is the designated hitter for the Southern League North Division All-Stars because of his stellar first-half performance for the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, Seattle's Double-A club.
Wilson is the leading active home-run hitter in the Southern League with 20 and sixth with 61 RBIs.
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But it is what happened during Wilson's five years in Single-A ball and his first season with the Jaxx that has taught him to take nothing for granted.
"My mind-set was just like any other guy (in the second round)," Wilson said."When you get drafted pretty high, you don't think you will be in the minors too long.But I got a reality check."
Wilson said he was a "raw talent" out of high school with many of baseball's nuances passing him by.
"I didn't have any (baseball) camps or anything to go to," Wilson said."I found out there was a lot of work, and that I had a lot of learning to do about the game."
Wilson learned about sacrifice bunts and hitting cutoff men while adjusting to professional pitchers that can locate a 90 mile-per-hour fastball and off-speed pitches.
"I can't just swing out of my shoes in every at-bat," Wilson said."There were guys that came in the same year as me, and it was hard to see them move to (Double-A) and even get taste of the big leagues whenever I am still down in (Single-A)."
Once he reached the Double-A level, Wilson said he put extra pressure on himself to make up for lost time.
"I felt like I had to do more than other guys to prove myself," Wilson said."I felt like I had to get five hits in one at-bat, which is impossible."
The learning curve was not the only kink in Wilson's extended minor league stay.
He has made plenty of doctor's visits for two pulled hamstrings during his first two seasons and a strained quadriceps muscle last year in his inaugural season with the Jaxx.
"I felt like the only thing that has held me back was my injuries," Wilson said.
After staying healthy this season, Wilson said he has found a secret to staying healthy - yoga classes.
The 6-foot-2, 245-pound outfielder has incorporated stretching techniques in his pregame routine from the classes he attended for half a month this offseason.
"I move pretty good for my size, so I really need the stretching," Wilson said.
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Wilson's .275 season average far surpasses his .188 mark of last season, and his strikeouts have been cut down from 43 percent of his at-bats to 30 percent.
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Wilson said hitting coach Phil Plantier has helped improve his pitch recognition and patience at the plate, which has resulted in more walks along with other improvements.
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"The game is slowing down this year," Wilson said.
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But as Wilson reaps his rewards from years of learning, he is always keeping his eye on the ultimate goal - the major leagues.
While the front office makes those decisions, both Wilson and Steinmann think it will be sooner rather than later.
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"I dream about it all the time," Wilson said.
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The Diamond Jaxx's Mike Wilson (50) will be the designated hitter for the North Division in Monday's Southern League All-Star game.Wilson has 20 home runs and 61 RBIs with a .275 batting average this year. (AARON HARDIN /The Jackson Sun)
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A comparison of Mike Wilson's stats from last year and this year:
2008 2007
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