Mike Wilson

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #14 prospect in 2007
  Wilson was headed to Oklahoma to play linebacker until Seattle took him in the second round and signed him for $900,000. Wilson developed at a painstakingly slow rate in his first three pro seasons, failing to get to full-season ball and struggling with switch-hitting and nagging groin and hamstring injuries. Once he gave up hitting lefthanded in 2005, he began to make progress. He has reached Double-A and hit 40 homers over the last two years while showing better instincts at the plate, on the bases and in the field. He now drives the ball to all fields rather than being a dead-pull hitter. He has shed some of his football bulk without losing strength, and his swing is now much looser than it had been. He runs well once he gets going and has gotten much better in left field, where he's now adequate. His arm has improved from awful to playable, a credit to his diligent work, and he threw out 17 baserunners last year. While he has made significant strides, Wilson still has a ways to go. He has an abrupt hitch in his swing and still chases sliders, though he now will handle some breaking balls he used to miss by two feet. He continues to draw walks but his strikeout rate spiked in 2006, even moreso after he reached Double-A. His routes in the outfield could still use some more improvement. Wilson has to close the holes in the game, but he has legitimate power and has a ceiling as an everyday left fielder. He'll probably open this year back in Double-A.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #24 prospect in 2006
  Matt Tuiasosopo isn't the only blue-chip football recruit in the system. Wilson was headed to play linebacker for Oklahoma until the Mariners took him in the second round of the 2001 draft and offered him $900,000. They also signed outfielder Matt Ware to a two-sport deal as a 21st-rounder that year but eventually lost him to the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. Wilson didn't make it to a full-season league until 2005 but turned a corner in low Class A. Inserted in the middle of the Wisconsin lineup, he batted .280-11-51 over the final two months. He started seeing the ball better and laid off pitches he used to chase in the past. He stopped switch-hitting in 2004 and has fared better while batting solely righthanded. Strong and powerful, he's one of the best athletes in the system. Wilson can make plays in center field, though he profiles better in right. He has corrected what was once a horrible arm action and now has average arm strength. He still has holes in his swing, but Seattle is enthused about his progress and his leadership ability. He's headed for high Class A.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #30 prospect in 2004
  The Mariners signed two outfield/football prospects out of the 2001 draft. They gave Wilson $900,000 as a second-round pick, getting him to give up a scholarship to play linebacker at Oklahoma. Matthew Ware, a 21st-rounder, signed a deal that allowed him to play defensive back at UCLA. He'll likely be lost to the NFL as an early-round pick in April. Wilson is a classic high-risk, high-reward player. He's a switch-hitting center fielder with plus power and speed, but he's also raw. He had a disappointing pro debut in 2002 and had to repeat the Arizona League last year. His swing is a bit long and loopy, which makes it hard for him to make consistent contact. He feasts on mistakes and struggles against better pitching. Caught in half of his 12 steal attempts last year, Wilson will have to improve his reads and jumps to become a useful basestealer. He shows good range and an average arm in center. He did make strides in instructional league and should finally be ready for low Class A three years after being drafted.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #17 prospect in 2002
  The Mariners signed two football prospects out of the 2001 draft, Wilson in the second round and fellow outfielder Matthew Ware in the 21st. While Ware starred as a UCLA freshman defensive back last fall and seems destined for the NFL, Seattle will hold onto Wilson, who gave up a scholarship to play linebacker for Oklahoma. Signability concerns caused Wilson to slide out of the first round, and he did take most of the summer to negotiate a $900,000 bonus. He's yet another multitooled center-field prospect in an organization already loaded with them. He offers a rare combination of power and speed and was clocked throwing 90 mph as a high school sophomore. He's still very raw because he hasn't concentrated on baseball until now. Wilson will need some time to develop a sound approach at the plate and to get the football stiffness out of his body. He pulled a hamstring in instructional league, so Seattle hasn't been able to work with him much to this point. He'll probably go to extended spring training before making his pro debut in 2002.