Brad Wilkerson

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Washington Nationals #2 prospect in 2002
  The organization's 2000 minor league player of the year and starting center fielder on the U.S. Olympic team, Wilkerson missed the first month of the 2001 season after surgery on his left shoulder the previous December. Promoted to Montreal in early July, he struggled mightily and was sent back to Triple-A six weeks later. Wilkerson is the best pure hitter in the system. He has a fluid swing with good extension, impressive plate coverage, opposite-field power and an advanced understanding of the strike zone. He makes adjustments and uses the entire field. He's a relentless defensive player with an average but accurate arm. He has average speed and keen baserunning skills. Wilkerson's difficulties in the majors persuaded the Expos to let him go back to using the high leg kick he employed in college. He's beginning to cover up holes on the inner half of the plate. Wilkerson was used sparingly in September after his return from Ottawa. With a good spring, he should be the Expos' everyday left fielder in 2002.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #3 prospect in 2001
  One of the top two-way players in NCAA history, Wilkerson struggled when he made his pro debut at the Double-A level in 1999. He returned there and flourished in 2000, earning a promotion to Triple-A and ranking second in the minors with a combined 47 doubles. He finished the season in Sydney as the center fielder on the U.S. Olympic team. Bad news came after that, though, as Wilkerson tried to play in the Arizona Fall League but succumbed to shoulder pain. He had surgery to repair the labrum and rotator cuff in his left shoulder in December and was expected to miss spring training. Assuming a full recovery, he has the classic tools of a right fielder. He has a smooth, compact swing from the left side, with outstanding bat speed and extension that should enable him to hit with above-average power. He's disciplined at the plate. He's a solid corner outfielder with a strong arm and average speed. Wilkerson's troubles two years ago were a blessing in disguise. He realized he needed to improve and entered 2000 in much better condition. He lacks the speed to play center as a pro. With right field blocked by Vladimir Guerrero, Wilkerson could be bound for left or even first base in Montreal. He would have competed for a job in spring training, but now he'll head to Triple-A when he's ready to play again, probably in May.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #10 prospect in 1999
  Background: Wilkerson was one of the top two-way players in NCAA history, but he slid out of the first round on draft day--perhaps because of signability concerns. After telling Wilkerson during the College World Series that they wouldn't take him with their regular first-round pick, the Expos took a chance on him later. He agreed to a $1 million bonus at the end of the summer. Strengths: Many scouts considered Wilkerson equally talented as a pitching prospect. As a hitter, Wilkerson has a smooth, Will Clark-like swing and good power potential. In the outfield, he has the instincts but not the speed to play center. He'll probably end up in right field. Weaknesses: Wilkerson may have become too power-conscious last year, as his swing broke down mechanically. He will have to make adjustments after sitting out all summer while negotiating his contract. The Future: Expect Wilkerson to make a smooth transition to wood bats in Class A, where the Expos will start him in 1999.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked International League #20 prospect in 2001
  In 2000, Wilkerson was the Expos' minor league player of the year and the starting center fielder for the U.S. Olympic team. But his Arizona Fall League season was cut short by pain in his throwing shoulder, and in December he underwent surgery to repair the labrum and rotator cuff. He missed spring training and the start of this season while recovering. Rusty when he returned, Wilkerson still showed his usual fine bat, gap power and batting eye. He has the tools of a right fielder, but the presence of Vladimir Guerrero means Wilkerson will have to play left field in Montreal. He struggled in his initial big league exposure but should win an everyday job next spring.
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  Ranked International League #10 prospect in 2000
  The Expos nearly took Wilkerson, a two-way star at the University of Florida, in the first round of the 1998 draft. They couldn't come to a predraft financial agreement but are thankful they got him as a supplemental first-rounder and were able to sign him for a $1 million bonus. After hitting just .235 in 422 Double-A at-bats last year in his pro debut, Wilkerson feasted on pitching at the same level this year to get a callup to Ottawa. He was more aggressive at the plate and showed more power, stroking a combined 47 doubles and 18 homers between the Eastern League and the IL. Though he projects as a corner outfielder, Wilkerson played center field for the U.S. Olympic team in September. "He's going to be a very solid player," Sweet said. "He can throw and he can run. He gets good jumps in the outfield. Make no mistake, though, he's mainly an offensive player."
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  Ranked Eastern League #4 prospect in 2000
  The Expos sent Brad Wilkerson straight to Double-A to make his pro debut in 1999, and the club believed that having him struggle would be far more valuable than sending him to dominate the high Class A Florida State League. They were right, as Wilkerson returned to the EL and sizzled in 2000. "Sometimes you have to push a kid forward to make him a better player," Varsho said. "Last year, he didn't do much for me. You could see he was overmatched. Being brought down a notch, I think, made him work harder and get into better shape. I think it's hard to have a kid fail, but adversity is a great thing to find out just how bad you really want it. He's going to help Montreal in the future, the near future." Wilkerson departed Harrisburg with numbers that no one rivaled, leaving the EL on pace to hit more than 60 doubles. He went on to Triple-A, then joined the U.S. Olympic team as the starting center fielder. Managers compared him to players such as Rico Brogna, Luis Gonzalez and Rusty Greer. "He's going to be a left fielder, but he showed us this year that he could develop into a pretty good first baseman," Sisson said. "He's a heck of an athlete and he's going to hit. He's going to hit for average. He's going to hit a lot of doubles. He's going to drive in a lot of runs. He has enough bat speed and he has a little bit of lift in his swing that I think he's going to hit more home runs in the big leagues than most people project him to."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #62 prospect in 2002
• Ranked Baseball America's #35 prospect in 2001

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  The Expos sent Brad Wilkerson straight to Double-A to make his pro debut in 1999, and the club believed that having him struggle would be far more valuable than sending him to dominate the high Class A Florida State League. They were right, as Wilkerson returned to the EL and sizzled in 2000. "Sometimes you have to push a kid forward to make him a better player," Varsho said. "Last year, he didn't do much for me. You could see he was overmatched. Being brought down a notch, I think, made him work harder and get into better shape. I think it's hard to have a kid fail, but adversity is a great thing to find out just how bad you really want it. He's going to help Montreal in the future, the near future." Wilkerson departed Harrisburg with numbers that no one rivaled, leaving the EL on pace to hit more than 60 doubles. He went on to Triple-A, then joined the U.S. Olympic team as the starting center fielder. Managers compared him to players such as Rico Brogna, Luis Gonzalez and Rusty Greer. "He's going to be a left fielder, but he showed us this year that he could develop into a pretty good first baseman," Sisson said. "He's a heck of an athlete and he's going to hit. He's going to hit for average. He's going to hit a lot of doubles. He's going to drive in a lot of runs. He has enough bat speed and he has a little bit of lift in his swing that I think he's going to hit more home runs in the big leagues than most people project him to."
• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  The Expos nearly took Wilkerson, a two-way star at the University of Florida, in the first round of the 1998 draft. They couldn't come to a predraft financial agreement but are thankful they got him as a supplemental first-rounder and were able to sign him for a $1 million bonus. After hitting just .235 in 422 Double-A at-bats last year in his pro debut, Wilkerson feasted on pitching at the same level this year to get a callup to Ottawa. He was more aggressive at the plate and showed more power, stroking a combined 47 doubles and 18 homers between the Eastern League and the IL. Though he projects as a corner outfielder, Wilkerson played center field for the U.S. Olympic team in September. "He's going to be a very solid player," Sweet said. "He can throw and he can run. He gets good jumps in the outfield. Make no mistake, though, he's mainly an offensive player."