Bobby Wilson Stats & Scouting Report

AB	932
AVG	.203
OBP	.258
SLG	.304
HR	18

Full name Robert Louis Wilson
Born 04/08/1983 in Dunedin, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School St. Petersburg JC
Debut 04/28/2008
Drafted in the 48th round (1,417th overall) by the Los Angeles Angels in 2002.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Wilson was a high school teammate of Casey Kotchman, the organization's first-round pick in 2001 and son of longtime Angels scout and manager Tom. Wilson has worked hard to refine his defensive tools and keep his weight in check over the course of seven pro seasons, and it paid off when he made the Angels' playoff roster last year as a third catcher. Nothing about Wilson's game is aesthetically pleasing. A righthanded hitter, he has a stiff, armoriented, uppercut swing that produces below-average bat speed. He knows the strike zone and can put the ball in play. He has batted .290/.345/.425 in three seasons with Triple-A Salt Lake, though he can get tied up by good fastballs inside and has almost no power. While stocky, he's agile behind the plate, with soft hands and average arm strength. Wilson shines on defense, leading the Pacific Coast League by throwing out 38 percent of basestealers last year. He excels at calling games and running a pitching staff, drawing praise from big league manager Mike Scioscia, who demands a lot from his catchers. The Angels face a decision this season with Wilson, who's out of options and probably would be claimed if exposed to waivers, but also is unlikely to supplant Mike Napoli or Jeff Mathis in Los Angeles. In all likelihood, Wilson will serve as some big league club's backup catcher in 2010.
Add Wilson to the growing list of players signed by Angels scout/Orem manager Tom Kotchman who have graduated to the major leagues. Wilson, who played with Kotchman's son Casey on Seminole (Fla.) High's national championship team in 2001, earned a September callup because he handles the bat and his duties behind the plate equally well. He doesn't have tremendous bat speed or power, but he makes consistent hard contact and is good for doubles if not home runs. He controls the strike zone well and is at his best when he uses the whole field. Wilson has spent the past two seasons in the high minors, so he has experience with many of the Angels' young pitchers. He draws praise for his game-calling ability, and his instincts and sound fundamentals allow his defensive tools to play up. He has average arm strength yet threw out 43 percent of basestealers last year, and he also showed his soft hands by committing just one passed ball in 62 Triple-A games. While he moves well behind the plate, he's a well-below-average runner. Though his ability to contribute offensively and defensively is just what Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia (a former all-star catcher) wants, Wilson probably will return to Salt Lake unless the club trades Jeff Mathis or Mike Napoli.
Wilson played on the same high school and summer league teams as Angels first baseman Casey Kotchman, whose father Tom signed him. Wilson's portly build and unorthodox swing mechanics make many scouts ambivalent about him, but he's got major league catch-and-throw tools and a track record of offensive performance. He missed most of May with a back injury last season but climbed to Triple-A for the final two months of the season. Wilson doesn't have a lightning-quick bat, but he has improved his approach and uses good hand-eye coordination to put his barrel on the ball consistently. He's at his best when he sprays line drives to all fields, but he gets pull-happy occasionally. He has a nose for the RBI and batted .387 with runners in scoring position in Triple-A last year. He's much more nimble behind the plate than his build would lead you to believe. His hands are soft, he has good range on balls in the dirt and he gets the most out of his average arm strength. He threw out at least 43 percent of basestealers in 2005 and '06 before erasing just 23 percent in Triple-A last year. He's a well-below-average runner. With Jeff Mathis and Mike Napoli ahead of him, Wilson's probably stuck in Triple-A, but his package is better than Ryan Budde's, and he could be the next catcher on Kotchman's list of big league alumni in 2008.
The draft-and-follow process was good to the Angels, especially in Florida, where longtime area scout Tom Kotchman mines the junior colleges resourcefully. He had a distinct advantage in the evaluation of Wilson, who played with his son Casey on Seminole (Fla.) High's 2001 national championship team and on Amateur Athletic Union clubs. Wilson's portly build and unorthodox swing mechanics make many scouts ambivalent about his prospect status, but he continues to improve his efficiency both at the plate and behind it. He has above-average bat speed and slightly below-average power. Wilson has shortened his swing, enabling him to make more consistent contact and improve his ability to handle pitches on the inner half. He'll use the opposite field and his plate discipline and feel for the strike zone make him a tough out. Wilson also has a knack for collecting the clutch hit. He's not terribly nimble behind the plate, but his footwork and hands are adequate, he blocks balls well and shows an average arm. He threw out 43 percent of basestealers in 2006 after erasing 45 percent the year before. He was unable to catch for most of the final month of the season because of shoulder soreness and some scouts question his durability. He profiles as a part-time big leaguer, but could play his way into an everyday role on a second-division team.
Wilson played with Casey Kotchman and was the MVP on Seminole (Fla.) High's 2001 national championship team. The Giants drafted him in the 26th round that June, but he headed to St. Petersburg Community College, where he became the 2003 Florida junior college player of the year. Wilson's stubby body and unorthodox swing mechanics never have impressed scouts. But he makes sharp contact and has improved his catch-and-throw skills since signing as a draft-and-follow for $150,000. He has good raw power and plenty of upside, especially now that he's improved behind the plate. He has average arm strength and has worked hard to improve his exchange and footwork, allowing him to throw out 45 percent of basestealers in 2005. He tends to overswing, but can really launch the bat head through the hitting zone. He has a good feel for the strike zone. He shortened his leg kick during last season, which improved his balance and shortened his swing. Like most catchers, he's a below-average runner. Wilson will move up to Double-A in 2006.
Wilson was Casey Kotchman's teammate and the team MVP on Seminole (Fla.) High's 2001 national championship team. The two close friends played Amateur Athletic Union ball together for 10 years. Wilson committed to Mississippi and was drafted in the 26th round by the Giants out of high school. He spurned both options and attended St. Petersburg Junior College and became the 2003 Florida juco player of the year. Tom Kotchman signed Wilson as a 48th-round draft-and-follow for $150,000 shortly before last year's draft, then managed him at Provo. Wilson topped the Pioneer League in RBIs despite missing a couple of weeks with a wrist injury and garnered comparisons to offensive catchers along the lines of Jim Leyritz, Mike Stanley and Todd Zeile. Wilson's strong, compact body never has thrilled scouts, but he worked hard in college on his conditioning. He generates above-average pop with a short, efficient swing. Behind the plate, he has the tools to evolve into a solid catcher, but he still needs to refine his receiving and catch-and-throw transfer. His pure arm strength is above-average, yet he nabbed just 15 percent of basestealers last year. The Angels are loaded with catching prospects from Jeff Mathis to Wilson to Jared Abruzzo, and there are also high hopes for Australian Mike Collins and defensive-specialist Brett Martinez. With so many backstops around, Wilson has taken grounders at third base, though his value is much higher behind the plate. He's likely to play every day but share time at catcher with Collins in low Class A this year.

Minor League Top Prospects

Kotchman not only managed Wilson, but also signed him. While he was reluctant to extol Wilson's ability, his contemporaries had no reservations. "This is a throwback catcher, a kid who will be a major league receiver," Carey said. "He's an outstanding prospect and a guy who will be an impact player from behind the dish in all phases of the game." Wilson led the league in RBIs despite missing time with a wrist injury. He has a short, quick stroke and hits with power to all fields. Though he threw out just 15 percent of basestealers, he has average arm strength that should improve with experience, as well as soft hands and excellent footwork. Scouts say he'll have to work to keep his body in shape.