Preston Wilson
Encyclopedia
Preston James Richard Wilson (born July 19, 1974 in Bamberg
, South Carolina
) is a retired professional baseball outfielder
. He played in the major leagues from 1998-2007. He is both the nephew and stepson of former New York Mets
star Mookie Wilson
. (Mookie married Preston's mother after his brother fathered Preston.)
1992 High School Player of the Year, Wilson was ranked among the top 100 prospects in baseball by the magazine four times between 1993 and 1998. He is known to be an aggressive hitter, according to scouts and media sources, based on his propensity to swing at the first pitch and his high strikeout rates.
After spending five seasons below Triple A
and a season in 1997 in the Australian Baseball League with the Hunter Eagles
. Wilson finally reached the majors in May 1998. Just two weeks after joining the Mets, he was traded to the Florida Marlins
with two other minor leaguers for Mike Piazza
. He returned to the minor leagues for most of the season.
s and runs batted in
as a rookie, and he finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting to Cincinnati Reds
reliever Scott Williamson
. The following season, Wilson joined the 30-30 club
, slugging 31 home runs and stealing 36 bases. He added 121 RBIs, good for eighth in the National League. Wilson also lived up to his reputation as a free swinger, nearly setting a new record for most strikeouts in a season. His total of 187 fell two shy of Bobby Bonds
' record at the time. (Adam Dunn
later broke the strikeout record with 195). Wilson hit 23 home runs in each of the following two seasons, though his overall production dipped, partially due to missed games.
for Juan Pierre
and Mike Hampton
. Wilson rebounded in 2003, leading the National League with 141 runs batted in. He belted 36 home runs, and he was named to his first All-Star team.
Bothered by a knee injury in 2004, Wilson was limited to 58 games, affecting his power numbers.
Zach Day
and outfielder J. J. Davis
. He led the team in homers and RBIs during the second half of the season, finishing with 25 and 90 respectively.
, with a team option of three additional years at $24 million and a buyout of $500,000. Previously a center fielder
, Wilson shifted to left
since Willy Taveras
, the previous season's Rookie of the Year runner-up, was already occupying the position.
On April 17, , Wilson set an Astros record by striking out five times in a single game. This tied the MLB record
. Despite early struggles, Wilson was batting .284 with 46 RBIs at the 2006 All-Star Break, with the potential for another 100+ RBI season. However, his power numbers were well below his previous years. He was referred to repeatedly on Houston's SportsRadio 610 as "Private Punch-out."
announced on August 18, that they had signed Wilson. The Cardinals took another chance on a discarded veteran since veteran center fielder Jim Edmonds
was out with post concussion syndrome. Wilson was designated for assignment by Houston on Saturday, August 12, before ultimately being given his release. He joined his new team six days later and was immediately inserted into the starting lineup. Wilson batted sixth and played right field, with Juan Encarnación
moving to center field. He made an instant impact for the Redbirds, hitting a home run in an 11–3 rout of the Chicago Cubs
on the 18th. Wilson, like his stepfather Mookie in 1986, would win a World Series ring in 2006.
The Cardinals re-signed Wilson for 2007, but he suffered a knee injury in early May and missed the rest of the 2007 season. After the end of the 2007 season Wilson was released. Wilson generated little interest during spring training 2008, leaving him a free agent.
On February 14, 2009 Wilson announced his retirement from Major League Baseball. "My body just couldn't take it anymore", said Wilson.
to play for them during the 2009 season. He played under another former New York Mets
player in Gary Carter
, who was the manager of the Ducks. Wilson played in 48 games for the Ducks, hitting .304 with 7 home runs, 37 RBI, a .344 on-base percentage, and a .474 slugging percentage. He did not return to the Ducks for the 2010 season, and was considering a comeback to the major leagues. However, he was not re-signed.
Bamberg, South Carolina
Bamberg is a city in and the county seat of Bamberg County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,733 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bamberg is located at ....
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
) is a retired professional baseball outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. He played in the major leagues from 1998-2007. He is both the nephew and stepson of former New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
star Mookie Wilson
Mookie Wilson
William Hayward "Mookie" Wilson is an American former Major League Baseball center fielder and current coach for the New York Mets. He played 12 years in baseball for the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays . He was a switch hitter primarily known for his impressive speed and positive attitude...
. (Mookie married Preston's mother after his brother fathered Preston.)
New York Mets
At age 17, he was drafted by the Mets out of Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School in the first round of the 1992 amateur draft. The Baseball AmericaBaseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
1992 High School Player of the Year, Wilson was ranked among the top 100 prospects in baseball by the magazine four times between 1993 and 1998. He is known to be an aggressive hitter, according to scouts and media sources, based on his propensity to swing at the first pitch and his high strikeout rates.
After spending five seasons below Triple A
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
and a season in 1997 in the Australian Baseball League with the Hunter Eagles
Hunter Eagles
The Hunter Eagles were formed for the ABL 1994-95 season after purchasing the Sydney Wave's licence, who had left the league two seasons earlier. The Eagles played in the ABL until the ABL 1997-98 season, and did not have sufficient funds to remain in operation.- See also :*Sport in...
. Wilson finally reached the majors in May 1998. Just two weeks after joining the Mets, he was traded to the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
with two other minor leaguers for Mike Piazza
Mike Piazza
Michael Joseph "Mike" Piazza ; born September 4, 1968) is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played in his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics....
. He returned to the minor leagues for most of the season.
Florida Marlins
In 1999, he was the Marlins' regular center fielder. Wilson led the team in home runHome run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
as a rookie, and he finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting to Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
reliever Scott Williamson
Scott Williamson
Scott Ryan Williamson is a right-handed relief pitcher in the Florida Marlins organization. He has played for the Cincinnati Reds , Boston Red Sox , Chicago Cubs , San Diego Padres , and the Baltimore Orioles...
. The following season, Wilson joined the 30-30 club
30-30 club
The 30–30 club is a grouping of Major League Baseball players who have reached the 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases plateaus in the same season....
, slugging 31 home runs and stealing 36 bases. He added 121 RBIs, good for eighth in the National League. Wilson also lived up to his reputation as a free swinger, nearly setting a new record for most strikeouts in a season. His total of 187 fell two shy of Bobby Bonds
Bobby Bonds
Bobby Lee Bonds was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball from to , primarily with the San Francisco Giants...
' record at the time. (Adam Dunn
Adam Dunn
Adam Troy Dunn , nicknamed "Big Donkey", is an American Major League Baseball first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Chicago White Sox. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed....
later broke the strikeout record with 195). Wilson hit 23 home runs in each of the following two seasons, though his overall production dipped, partially due to missed games.
Colorado Rockies
After the 2002 season, Wilson was involved in a six player deal which sent him and three others to the Colorado RockiesColorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
for Juan Pierre
Juan Pierre
Juan D'Vaughn Pierre is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. He bats and throws left-handed....
and Mike Hampton
Mike Hampton
Michael William Hampton is a left-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher. During his career, Hampton was well known for being one of the best hitting pitchers of his time, as well as for his large contract and frequent injuries.-Early career:Mike Hampton was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in...
. Wilson rebounded in 2003, leading the National League with 141 runs batted in. He belted 36 home runs, and he was named to his first All-Star team.
Bothered by a knee injury in 2004, Wilson was limited to 58 games, affecting his power numbers.
Washington Nationals
He was acquired by the Washington Nationals in July 2005 for pitcherPitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Zach Day
Zach Day
Stephen Zachary Day is a former right-handed sinker-ball pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for three teams from 2002 to 2006.He currently resides in Cincinnati with his wife, Megan.-Career history:...
and outfielder J. J. Davis
J. J. Davis
Jerry C. "J. J." Davis is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played during four seasons at the major league level for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals. He was drafted by the Pirates in the 1st round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft...
. He led the team in homers and RBIs during the second half of the season, finishing with 25 and 90 respectively.
Houston Astros
In the 2005 offseason, Wilson signed a one-year deal worth $4 million with the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, with a team option of three additional years at $24 million and a buyout of $500,000. Previously a center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
, Wilson shifted to left
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
since Willy Taveras
Willy Taveras
Willy Taveras is a Major League Baseball center fielder.-Houston Astros:Taveras played in 10 games at the end of the Astros season, mostly as a pinch runner....
, the previous season's Rookie of the Year runner-up, was already occupying the position.
On April 17, , Wilson set an Astros record by striking out five times in a single game. This tied the MLB record
Golden sombrero
In baseball, golden sombrero is a slang term used to describe a player's inglorious feat of striking out four times in a single game.-Origin:The term derives from hat trick, and since four is bigger than three, the rationale was that a four-strikeout performance should be referred to by a bigger...
. Despite early struggles, Wilson was batting .284 with 46 RBIs at the 2006 All-Star Break, with the potential for another 100+ RBI season. However, his power numbers were well below his previous years. He was referred to repeatedly on Houston's SportsRadio 610 as "Private Punch-out."
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
announced on August 18, that they had signed Wilson. The Cardinals took another chance on a discarded veteran since veteran center fielder Jim Edmonds
Jim Edmonds
James Patrick "Jim" Edmonds is a former American Major League Baseball center fielder. He played for the California/Anaheim Angels, the St. Louis Cardinals, the San Diego Padres, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Chicago Cubs, and the Cincinnati Reds...
was out with post concussion syndrome. Wilson was designated for assignment by Houston on Saturday, August 12, before ultimately being given his release. He joined his new team six days later and was immediately inserted into the starting lineup. Wilson batted sixth and played right field, with Juan Encarnación
Juan Encarnación
Juan De Dios Encarnación is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. His last major league team was the St. Louis Cardinals...
moving to center field. He made an instant impact for the Redbirds, hitting a home run in an 11–3 rout of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
on the 18th. Wilson, like his stepfather Mookie in 1986, would win a World Series ring in 2006.
The Cardinals re-signed Wilson for 2007, but he suffered a knee injury in early May and missed the rest of the 2007 season. After the end of the 2007 season Wilson was released. Wilson generated little interest during spring training 2008, leaving him a free agent.
On February 14, 2009 Wilson announced his retirement from Major League Baseball. "My body just couldn't take it anymore", said Wilson.
Long Island Ducks (post-retirement)
On March 21, 2009, Preston was signed by the Long Island DucksLong Island Ducks
The Long Island Ducks is an American professional baseball team based in Central Islip, New York. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
to play for them during the 2009 season. He played under another former New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
player in Gary Carter
Gary Carter
Gary Edmund Carter , nicknamed "Kid" and "Kid Carter", is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 19-year baseball career, mostly with the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, Carter established himself as one of the premier catchers in the National League, winning three Gold...
, who was the manager of the Ducks. Wilson played in 48 games for the Ducks, hitting .304 with 7 home runs, 37 RBI, a .344 on-base percentage, and a .474 slugging percentage. He did not return to the Ducks for the 2010 season, and was considering a comeback to the major leagues. However, he was not re-signed.
See also
- 30-30 club30-30 clubThe 30–30 club is a grouping of Major League Baseball players who have reached the 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases plateaus in the same season....
- List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
- List of second generation MLB players