William Bradley Wilson is an American professional baseball infielder who currently plays for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on July 21, 1998, in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, Wilson has established himself as a versatile infielder who reached the major leagues in 2025 after being selected 15th overall in the 2019 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels. He previously played for the Cleveland Guardians and has built a reputation as a player with power potential and defensive flexibility across the infield.
Will Wilson Bio
William Bradley Wilson grew up in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, where he attended Kings Mountain High School. His athletic versatility was evident early, as he participated in football, basketball, and baseball during middle school. In high school, Wilson played football as a nose guard before transitioning to quarterback and eventually quit the sport to focus entirely on baseball. His decision proved fruitful, as he delivered an exceptional senior season, hitting .535 with a .673 on-base percentage and 1.253 slugging percentage, clubbing 14 home runs in just 26 games. Despite these impressive numbers, Wilson went undrafted in the 2016 MLB Draft and chose to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level.
Early Life and Background
Wilson comes from a baseball-oriented family, as his mother played college softball for the Winthrop Eagles. This athletic background provided him with a strong foundation in team sports and competition from a young age. His upbringing in Kings Mountain exposed him to the traditions of small-town American athletics, where multi-sport participation was valued and the path to professional sports often ran through local high school programs. The decision to concentrate solely on baseball by his senior year of high school marked his first dedicated step toward pursuing baseball at the highest level.
Path to Professional Baseball
Wilson enrolled at North Carolina State University (NC State) in 2016, joining the NC State Wolfpack baseball program. His freshman season in 2017 proved he was ready for major college competition, as he started all 61 games primarily at second base and batted .300 with 21 doubles, eight home runs, and 48 RBIs. His 21 doubles tied for the league lead and ranked second among all freshmen in the nation. These performances earned him spots on the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Freshman Team, the D1Baseball Freshman All-American list, and the Collegiate Baseball Magazine Freshman All-American team.
During his sophomore season in 2018, Wilson transitioned to shortstop and continued to produce at a high level. He hit .307 with 15 home runs and 53 RBIs in 59 games, earning ACC Player of the Week honors three times—a record for a single season at NC State. His standout campaign resulted in his selection to the All-ACC First Team. Following the college season, Wilson represented the United States collegiate national team, gaining valuable international experience. His junior season in 2019 saw him reach new heights, as he slashed .339/.425/.665 with 20 doubles, 16 home runs, and 57 RBIs in 55 games. He was named the ACC Defender of the Year and earned All-ACC First Team honors for the second consecutive year. Wilson also completed a finance degree from NC State in just three years, demonstrating his ability to balance athletics and academics.
Will Wilson Career
Los Angeles Angels (2019)
Wilson entered the 2019 MLB Draft as one of the top prospects available, and his stock was validated when the Los Angeles Angels selected him with the 15th overall pick. He signed with the Angels on June 10, 2019, receiving a signing bonus of $3.4 million. Wilson began his professional career with the Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League, a Rookie Advanced circuit. Over 46 games with Orem, he demonstrated his offensive potential by slashing .275/.328/.439 with 23 runs, five home runs, and 18 RBIs in 189 at-bats, providing an early indication of the power production that would define his minor league career.
San Francisco Giants (2019–2024)
On December 10, 2019, just months after being drafted, Wilson was traded to the San Francisco Giants as part of a package that included Zack Cozart, with the Angels receiving a player to be named later or cash considerations. Wilson did not appear in any games during the 2020 season due to the cancellation of the minor league campaign caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed his professional development.
Wilson began the 2021 season with the Eugene Emeralds of the High-A West, where he posted a .251/.339/.497 slash line with 37 runs, 10 home runs, and 26 RBIs in 195 at-bats across 49 games. His strong performance earned a promotion to the Richmond Flying Squirrels of Double-A Northeast in early July. With Richmond, Wilson struggled somewhat, batting .189/.281/.306 with five home runs and 22 RBIs in 51 games. Following the season, he participated in the Arizona Fall League with the Scottsdale Scorpions, a prestigious league designed to accelerate development for top prospects.
The 2022 season featured a mid-May promotion to the Sacramento River Cats of Triple-A, though Wilson was sent back down to Richmond in late August. He missed playing time due to injury during the year and rehabbed with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Giants. Across 71 combined games with three affiliates, he hit .250/.346/.452 with 43 runs, 13 home runs, and 38 RBIs. Wilson spent the 2023 campaign split between Richmond and Sacramento, appearing in 128 games and posting a .228/.295/.391 line with career-highs of 18 home runs and 66 RBIs. In 2024, he continued at the Double-A and Triple-A levels, making 110 appearances and slashing .216/.299/.296 with five home runs, 45 RBIs, and six stolen bases.
Cleveland Guardians (2025)
On December 11, 2024, the Cleveland Guardians selected Wilson in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft, acquiring him from the Giants organization. He was assigned to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers to begin the 2025 season, where he impressed by batting .324 with six home runs and 18 RBIs in just 18 games. On April 22, 2025, the Guardians selected Wilson to the 40-man roster and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut and recorded his first major league hit the following day in the bottom of the ninth inning against the New York Yankees. Wilson appeared in 34 games during his rookie campaign with Cleveland, slashing .192/.267/.244 with two RBIs and two stolen bases. On November 6, 2025, Wilson was removed from the 40-man roster and rejected an outright assignment, electing free agency.
Seattle Mariners (2026–Present)
On January 26, 2026, Wilson signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners that included an invitation to spring training. He was assigned to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers to begin the regular season. On April 20, 2026, the Mariners added Wilson to their active roster. In his Mariners debut on April 25, 2026, he hit his first career home run off Matthew Liberatore in a victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Through late April 2026, Wilson has appeared in multiple games for Seattle while continuing to adjust to major league competition.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wilson has shown throughout his career a blend of power potential and defensive versatility that has allowed him to play multiple infield positions. His offensive game centers on his ability to drive the ball with authority, as evidenced by his career-high 18 home runs in 2023. He has demonstrated patience at the plate with the capacity to work counts and reach base, while also possessing the speed to contribute on the basepaths. Defensively, Wilson has logged significant time at shortstop and second base, with the instincts and hands that earned him ACC Defender of the Year honors in 2019.
Will Wilson Career Wins
Wilson has built his career statistics across eight professional seasons in the minor leagues before establishing himself at the major league level. His power numbers have been a consistent strength, with multiple seasons of double-digit home run production at the upper levels of the minors.
MLB Highlights
Through April 25, 2026, Wilson has appeared in a limited number of major league games, recording a batting average of .200 with one home run and four RBIs. His most significant moment came in his very first game with the Seattle Mariners when he homered off Matthew Liberatore for his first career major league home run. He previously recorded his first major league hit against the New York Yankees while playing for Cleveland in April 2025. Wilson continues to work toward consistent playing time at the highest level.
Will Wilson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Wilson was born to athletic parents in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. His mother played college softball for the Winthrop Eagles, passing down a competitive athletic background and a love for team sports. This family history of collegiate athletics helped shape Wilson’s understanding of what it takes to compete at high levels and contributed to his development as an athlete.
Personal Life
Wilson earned his finance degree from North Carolina State University in just three years, demonstrating his ability to balance rigorous academic demands with the time commitment required of a Division I athlete. He is married, with his college teammate Patrick Bailey serving as a groomsman in his wedding. Wilson also returned the favor, acting as a groomsman in Bailey’s wedding, reflecting the strong friendships formed during their time together at NC State.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Wilson’s long-awaited arrival to Major League Baseball after five-plus years working through the minor leagues. His path to the majors included an impressive stint with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, where he posted a .324 batting average with six home runs and 18 RBIs in just 18 games before his promotion. This hot start convinced the Guardians to add him to their 40-man roster and bring him up to the major leagues in late April.
His debut season with Cleveland featured the typical adjustments faced by any rookie learning major league pitching. Wilson appeared in 34 games, working to find consistent timing against veteran pitchers while establishing himself as a viable major league contributor. His first major league hit against the Yankees provided a memorable moment early in his career. The Guardians ultimately removed him from their 40-man roster in November, and Wilson elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment, signaling his desire to pursue other opportunities where he might have a clearer path to everyday at-bats.
The move to sign with the Seattle Mariners in January 2026 represented a fresh start for Wilson. Assigned initially to Triple-A Tacoma, he earned a promotion to the active roster in April 2026 and connected for his first major league home run in his debut with the team. Wilson appears positioned to continue developing his major league career with an organization that has shown confidence in his abilities. His combination of power potential, defensive flexibility, and youth gives him upside that MLB teams continue to value as he works toward establishing himself as a regular contributor.