| Alex Wilson | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Wilson with the Detroit Tigers in 2018 | |||||||||||||||
| Relief pitcher | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1986-11-03)November 3, 1986 (age 39) Dhahran, Saudi Arabia | |||||||||||||||
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| April 11, 2013, for the Boston Red Sox | |||||||||||||||
| Last MLB appearance | |||||||||||||||
| April 27, 2019, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 14–14 | ||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 3.44 | ||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 226 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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William Alexander Wilson (born November 3, 1986) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theBoston Red Sox,Detroit Tigers andMilwaukee Brewers.
Wilson was born inDhahran, Saudi Arabia where his father, Jim Wilson, worked as ageologist forAramco. Jim playedcollege football in theNAIA atHanover College before being cut by theCincinnati Bengals, declining an offer from theGreen Bay Packers and returning to graduate school.
The family moved toNew Orleans when Wilson was two years old and then moved toKingsport, Tennessee, where Wilson spent the majority of his youth.[1] Wilson grew up as aBoston Red Sox fan.[2]
Wilson attendedHurricane High School inHurricane, West Virginia,[3] then attendedWinthrop University.Collegiate Baseball named him the National Freshman Pitcher of the Year in 2006.[2] After the 2007 and 2008 seasons, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theFalmouth Commodores of theCape Cod Baseball League.[4][5][6] In the summer of 2007, he hadTommy John surgery.[7] He transferred toTexas A&M University in January 2008.[7] He was drafted by theChicago Cubs in the 10th Round of the2008 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign.
Wilson was drafted by theBoston Red Sox in the 2nd round, with the 77th overall selection, of the2009 Major League Baseball Draft. On November 20, 2012, the Red Sox added Wilson to their40-man roster to protect him from theRule 5 Draft.[8]
On March 16, 2013, Wilson was optioned to the Triple-APawtucket Red Sox to begin the season. He was called up to the Red Sox on April 7 whenJohn Lackey went on the disabled list, and made his Major League debut on April 11. He was optioned to Pawtucket on May 29, and recalled on June 13 whenAlfredo Aceves was optioned to Pawtucket.
Wilson pitched in the Major Leagues for parts of the 2013 and 2014 seasons. He threw27+2⁄3 innings for the Red Sox in 2013 and posted a 4.88 ERA. He performed much better in his28+1⁄3 Major League innings in 2014, recording a 1.91 ERA.
On December 11, 2014, the Red Sox traded Wilson along withGabe Speier andYoenis Céspedes to theDetroit Tigers forRick Porcello.[9]
On May 27, 2015, Alex Wilson made his first career major league start for the Detroit Tigers, against theOakland Athletics, throwing 52 pitches in 3 scoreless innings. Detroit went on to win 3–2.
On July 30, 2015, Wilson earned his first major league save, getting the final five outs in a 9–8 Tigers win over theBaltimore Orioles.[10] For the season, he pitched 70 innings (including a team-high 67 in relief), with 16 games finished, 2 saves, a 2.19 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP.
During the 2016 season, Wilson set career highs with 62 appearances and 73 innings, while posting a 4–0 record with a 2.96 ERA, with 49 strikeouts and 21 walks.
On January 13, 2017, the Tigers avoided arbitration with Wilson, agreeing on a one-year, $1.175 million contract.[11] On August 25, Wilson was ejected for the first time in his Major League career after hittingTodd Frazier with a pitch. This followed afterMiguel Cabrera andAustin Romine were ejected for triggering abench-clearing brawl and afterDellin Betances was also ejected for the first time in his Major League career after hittingJames McCann with a pitch. The next day, August 25, Wilson was suspended for four games. He appealed, and had the suspension reduced to three games, which he sat out beginning on September 2.[12]
On September 23, 2017, Wilson sustained a non-displaced fractured right fibula after he was hit by a line drive off the bat ofJoe Mauer, ending his season. During the 2017 season, Wilson posted a 2–5 record, 4.35 ERA, and 42 strikeouts in 60 innings pitched.[13][14]
On January 17, 2018, the Tigers avoided arbitration with Wilson, agreeing on a one-year, $1.925 million contract.[15] In a game on May 7, 2018, Wilson hurt his foot covering first base, and was later diagnosed with a plantar fascia strain. He was placed on the 10-day disabled list the next day.[16] He returned to action for the Tigers on June 7.[17] For the 2018 season, Wilson pitched61+2⁄3 innings, posting a 3.36 ERA and 43 strikeouts. On November 30, 2018, the Tigers non-tendered Wilson and he elected free agency.[18]
On February 9, 2019, Wilson signed a minor league contract with theCleveland Indians.[19] The deal included an invitation to the Indians' major league spring training camp. He opted out of his contract with the Indians on March 21, 2019, after being informed he would not make the opening day major league roster.[20]
On March 24, 2019, Wilson signed with theMilwaukee Brewers on March 24.[21] He was designated for assignment on April 29, 2019, and outrighted on May 1. He was released by the organization on August 3, 2019.
On August 7, 2019, Wilson signed a minor league contract with theChicago Cubs. In 10 games for the Triple–AIowa Cubs, he posted a 1–2 record and 5.11 ERA with 11 strikeouts over12+1⁄3 innings pitched. Wilson became a free agent following the season on November 4.[22]
On January 4, 2020, Wilson signed a minor league contract with theDetroit Tigers that included an invitation tospring training.[23][24] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[25] Wilson was released by the Tigers organization on June 25.
Wilson announced his retirement from professional baseball on July 28, 2020, and joined the Ballengee Group as an advisor.[26]
Wilson throws three primary pitches. He has a four-seamfastball that averages 92 mph (tops out at 97 mph), a two-seam fastball at 88-92 mph (tops out at 96 mph), and a slider in the 86-89 mph range (tops out at 91 mph). The two-seam fastball is used as both acutter and asinker. He throws the cutter more than any other pitch. Wilson also throws an occasionalcurveball andchangeup.[27]
Wilson is the second Saudi-born player in MLB history, afterCraig Stansberry.[3]
Wilson and his wife Kristin have three daughters and one son.[28]
