Former major league right-hander Alex Wilson has retired, Robert Murray reports. The 33-year-old will join the Ballengee Group as an advisor, per Murray.
Wilson, a second-round pick of the Red Sox in 2009, debuted in 2013 and generated solid results with Boston over a combined 56 innings through 2014. But Wilson wasn’t long for the Red Sox, who traded him to Detroit after the 2014 campaign in the teams’ Yoenis Cespedes–Rick Porcello swap. Wilson went on to enjoy a successful stint as a member of the Tigers, with whom he was a durable and effective reliever.
Wilson amassed 264 2/3 innings and pitched to a 3.20 ERA with 5.8 K/9 against 2.1 BB/9 as Tiger from 2015-18, but they non-tendered him heading into last season. He saw his final major league action in Milwaukee, where he was tattooed for 12 earned runs on 15 hits in 11 1/3 frames. Although the Tigers brought Wilson back last offseason on a minor league contract, they ended up releasing him in June.
While his career didn’t end in ideal fashion, there’s no denying Wilson had a more productive MLB career than most. He’ll depart with 332 innings of 3.44 ERA ball and 6.1 K/9 against 2.4 BB/9. MLBTR wishes Wilson the best in his next venture.
According to Baseball Reference, he was born in Saudi Arabia.
yep. think his father was there on archeological business if i remember correctly.
I wish him well he deserves it.
He was fun to watch. Maybe the Bosox should lure him out of retirement. Smh.
Seriously I just thought that in my head too…could use him in any capacity…even as a 1 inning opener…most of our regular starters are only going 2 innings anyway
Actually I think they’re going to make a play for Dr. Fauci to be their 3rd starter. He couldn’t be much worse.
I expect the Marlins will be calling. Only 14 spots to fill!
To quote his brother Owen Wilson “wow”.
Good for him, godspeed in retirement.
Remember watching him get obliterated on the brewers ah fun times fun times
congrats on remembering as far back as last season
Our last MLB player bon in Saudi Arabia
Everyday Alex…you lived the dream. Enjoy your second career!
According to some article, Tigers GM Dombrowski demanded a bit more for Porcello than just Cespedes, because the latter had a special contract which made it impossible to give him a qualifying offer. So Boston added Gabe Speier – and Alex Wilson.
His lone start was in Oakland, when the Tigers had to rely on three younger pitchers with something like 3.0 IP each. Following an advice from his pitching coach, Wilson entered the game from the bullpen, just like he was accustomed to.
Wilson was part of a Tigers roster which also included LHP Justin Wilson and C Bobby Wilson. Alex’ stint with the Tigers was the longest and perhaps a bit underappreciated, but certainly solid to say the least.
Some freak foot injury appeared shortly before the Tigers let him go, which came as a surprise to me. Unfortunately, Wilson never really recovered; his attempt to become a sidearm starter this spring has not been helpful. As a Tigers fan I would have loved to see his steady contributions for a longer time, but it was not to be. He was my second-favorite reliever behind Blaine Hardy. Thank you very much and farewell, Alex!
Gruß,
BSHH
As a Tiger fan I always will appreciate his contributions. He pitched in a spring training game this past February against the Mets and he gave up a bomb to Tim Tebow right after the Tiger radio announcers were saying how Tebow has, basically, no business being in the big leagues. I knew right then that Wilson’s career was over. I wish him the very, very best.
I ws bummed when Boston traded him. He went to Hurricane High School in Hurricane, WV. It’s pronounced hurr-ih-kin for some reason. I’m from WV so it was cool that a WV kid was on the Sox.
David Carpenter, who came over in the trade for John Farrell, went to the same high school I did.