Will Wilson Bio
William Bradley Wilson, born on July 21, 1998, is an American professional baseball infielder currently playing in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners. He has previously played in MLB for the Cleveland Guardians. Wilson played college baseball for the NC State Wolfpack, and was selected with the 15th overall pick of the 2019 MLB draft by the Los Angeles Angels. He made his MLB debut in 2025 after working his way through the minor leagues for several organizations.
A versatile infielder who has handled both middle-infield positions during his professional career, Wilson is known for his defensive ability and power at the plate. His professional journey has taken him through multiple organizations, including the Angels, Giants, and Guardians systems, before reaching the major leagues.
Early Life and Background
William Bradley Wilson was born on July 21, 1998, in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. He grew up in the same small town and attended Kings Mountain High School, where he developed into a top baseball prospect. Wilson came from an athletic family, and his mother played college softball for the Winthrop Eagles, which helped shape his early appreciation for competitive sports.
Alongside baseball, Wilson also played football and basketball in middle school, showcasing his all-around athleticism. While playing high school football, he was a nose guard turned quarterback until he quit the sport in order to concentrate on baseball. As a senior at Kings Mountain High School, he hit for a .535/.673/1.253 slash line with 14 home runs in 26 games, establishing himself as one of the top position-player prospects in North Carolina.
Wilson’s standout senior season drew attention from college scouts, but he went undrafted in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. He chose to enroll at North Carolina State University, where he would go on to play three years of college baseball for the NC State Wolfpack. He completed his finance degree from NC State in just three years, showing the same discipline off the field that he displayed on it.
Path to Professional Baseball
Wilson wasted little time making an impact at NC State. In 2017, as a freshman playing primarily second base, Wilson started all 61 games and batted .300/.377/.504 with 21 doubles, eight home runs, and 48 RBIs. His 21 doubles tied for the league lead and stood as the second-highest total of any freshman in the nation that year. He was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Freshman Team along with being named a Freshman All-American by D1Baseball and Collegiate Baseball Magazine.
As a sophomore in 2018, Wilson moved to shortstop and hit .307/.376/.588 with three triples, 15 home runs, and 53 RBIs in 59 games. During the season, he was named ACC Player of the Week three times, which set an NC State record. He was also named to the All-ACC First Team. After the season, he played for the United States collegiate national team, gaining valuable experience against top-tier competition.
Prior to the 2019 season, Wilson was named a preseason All-American by multiple media outlets including Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. He was named the ACC Defender of the Year along with being named to the All-ACC First Team for the second consecutive year. He played shortstop and finished the season slashing .339/.425/.665 with 20 doubles, 16 home runs, and 57 RBIs in 55 games, cementing his status as one of the top prospects for that year’s draft.
Will Wilson Career
Early Career (2019-2020)
Wilson was considered one of the top prospects for the 2019 Major League Baseball draft. He was selected by the Los Angeles Angels with the 15th overall pick, validating the projection. He signed with the Angels on June 10 for a signing bonus of $3.4 million. He made his professional debut with the Orem Owlz of the Rookie Advanced Pioneer League, where he slashed .275/.328/.439 in 189 at-bats with 23 runs, five home runs, and 18 RBIs over 46 games.
On December 10, 2019, Wilson and Zack Cozart were traded to the San Francisco Giants for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Wilson did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, cutting his development year short and forcing him to wait another full season before getting back on the field.
San Francisco Giants System (2021-2024)
To begin 2021, Wilson was assigned to the Eugene Emeralds of the High-A West. After slashing .251/.339/.497 in 195 at-bats with 37 runs, ten home runs, and 26 RBI over 49 games, he was promoted to the Richmond Flying Squirrels of the Double-A Northeast in early July. Over 51 games with Richmond, Wilson batted .189/.281/.306 in 196 at-bats with five home runs and 22 RBI. He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions after the season.
Wilson returned to Richmond to begin the 2022 season, and in mid-May he was promoted to the Sacramento River Cats of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He missed time during the season due to injury and rehabbed with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Giants. Over a combined 71 games played for the three affiliates, he hit .250/.346/.452 in 252 at-bats with 43 runs, 13 home runs, and 38 RBI.
Wilson spent the 2023 campaign split between Richmond and Sacramento, playing in 128 games and batting .228/.295/.391 with career-highs in home runs (18) and RBI (66). He split 2024 between Richmond and Sacramento as well, making 110 appearances and slashing .216/.299/.296 with five home runs, 45 RBI, and six stolen bases, before his contract status changed at the end of the season.
Cleveland Guardians Era (2025)
On December 11, 2024, the Cleveland Guardians selected Wilson in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. He was assigned to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, batting .324 with six home runs and 18 RBI across 18 games. On April 22, 2025, Wilson was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time, officially reaching the big leagues after six years in the minors.
Wilson recorded his first major league hit the following day in the bottom of the ninth inning against the New York Yankees. He made 34 appearances for the Guardians during his rookie campaign, slashing .192/.267/.244 with two RBI and two stolen bases. On November 6, Wilson was removed from the 40-man roster, rejected an outright assignment, and elected free agency, opening the door for his next opportunity.
Seattle Mariners Era (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, and on April 20, the Mariners added Wilson to their active roster. In his Mariners debut on April 25, he hit his first career home run off of Matthew Liberatore in a win over the St. Louis Cardinals, giving him an early signature moment with his new club.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wilson’s profile as a defender has long been his calling card, as evidenced by his ACC Defender of the Year award during his junior year at NC State. He plays a steady middle infield, with the ability to handle both shortstop and second base at the professional level. At the plate, his game has leaned toward extra-base power, with multiple minor league seasons of double-digit home runs, while his hit tool has lagged behind his glove and power.
Notable Events and Milestones
Wilson was selected 15th overall in the 2019 MLB draft and signed a $3.4 million bonus with the Angels. He spent time in the prestigious Arizona Fall League with the Scottsdale Scorpions, earned All-ACC and Freshman All-American honors at NC State, and recorded his first MLB hit against the New York Yankees in 2025. His first career home run came on April 25, 2026, off Matthew Liberatore in his Seattle Mariners debut.
Will Wilson Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Wilson’s mother played college softball for the Winthrop Eagles, giving the family a deep athletic foundation. That background helped shape Will Wilson’s competitive drive and his approach to multi-sport development growing up in Kings Mountain, North Carolina.
Personal Life
Wilson is married. His college teammate at NC State, catcher Patrick Bailey, was a groomsman in his wedding, and Wilson served as a groomsman in Bailey’s wedding. He earned his finance degree from NC State in three years, balancing a demanding academic workload with a top-tier college baseball career.
