Brian Wilson (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brian Wilson |
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Wilson with the Giants in 2011
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: March 16, 1982 Winchester, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 23, 2006, for the San Francisco Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 27, 2014, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 24–25 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.30 | ||
| Strikeouts | 407 | ||
| Saves | 172 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Brian Patrick Wilson (born March 16, 1982) is a former American professional baseball player. He was a relief pitcher, which means he came into games later to help his team. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Wilson is well-known for his big black beard, which he started growing in 2010. Fans loved his entrance at home games when the song "Jump Around" played. He was also called "the Beard" and "B-Weezy".
Contents
Early Life and High School Baseball
Brian Wilson was born in Winchester, Massachusetts, on March 16, 1982. When he was in second grade, his family moved to Londonderry, New Hampshire. Brian often spoke about his father, Mike Wilson, who was an Air Force veteran. His father was very strict and taught him to work hard.
When Brian was 12, his father was diagnosed with cancer. His father passed away five years later, while Brian was attending Londonderry High School. Brian said that he had to grow up quickly when his father became sick. Teachers at his high school remembered him as a good student. However, he sometimes had trouble with authority figures. An assistant principal at the school said that losing his dad at such a young age really shaped Brian's personality.
Brian's high school coach, Bob Napolitano, noticed Brian's strong focus on baseball. He remembered a game shortly after Brian's father died. Many professional scouts came to watch Brian pitch. But Brian seemed to ignore them completely. He pitched a great game, giving up only two hits. The Cleveland Indians offered him a contract right after high school. However, Brian decided to go to college instead.
College Career at LSU
After a coach saw Brian pitch well in California, he received a scholarship to Louisiana State University (LSU). He played for the LSU Tigers baseball team. He became one of their top pitchers. During his time at LSU, Brian played in 51 games. He won 18 games, lost 10, and had five saves.
In 2002, he played summer baseball for the Hyannis Mets. In March 2003, during his third season, he injured his elbow. He then had a surgery called Tommy John surgery. Even though he faced a long recovery, Brian decided to enter the 2003 Major League Baseball draft.
Professional Baseball Career
Draft and Minor Leagues
The San Francisco Giants drafted Brian Wilson in the 24th round in 2003. He started his professional career in 2004 with the Hagerstown Suns. He mostly pitched in relief, meaning he came into games after the starting pitcher.
In 2005, he played for the Augusta GreenJackets. He had a great year, with a 5–1 record and a very low earned run average (ERA) of 0.82. He also recorded 13 saves. His strong performance helped him move up to higher minor league teams. He played for the Norwich Navigators and the Fresno Grizzlies that same year.
San Francisco Giants (2006–2012)
First Years and Becoming a Closer
Brian Wilson joined the Giants in the major leagues on April 23, 2006. He pitched two innings in his first game. He got his first career save on July 2, 2006. In 2007, he became the Giants' main closer. A closer is a pitcher who finishes the game, usually in the last inning, to secure a win.
All-Star Seasons
In 2008, Brian was the Giants' closer for the whole season. He was chosen for the All-Star Game because he led the National League in saves. He finished the year with 41 saves, which was second-best in the league.
In 2009, Brian saved Randy Johnson's 300th career win. This was a very important moment in baseball history. Brian had 38 saves that year, tying for third in the National League.
2010: World Series Champion
The 2010 season was a huge year for Brian Wilson. He agreed to a new contract with the Giants. He was chosen for the All-Star Game again. On the last day of the regular season, he earned his 48th save. This tied the Giants' record for most saves in a single season. He led all of MLB in saves that year.
In the 2010 playoffs, Brian was a key player. He earned saves in the first round against the Atlanta Braves. In the next series against the Philadelphia Phillies, he helped the Giants win the series. He joined a small group of pitchers who won or saved four games in one postseason series.
The Giants then faced the Texas Rangers in the World Series. Brian pitched in three games and didn't allow any runs. He recorded the final save in Game 5, helping the Giants win their first World Series since 1954!
2011 and Injury
In 2011, Brian was chosen for his third All-Star Game. He earned the save in that game. Later in the season, he injured his right elbow. He finished the year with 36 saves.
2012: Second Tommy John Surgery
Brian's 2012 season was very short. In April, he injured his elbow again and had his second Tommy John surgery. This meant he missed the rest of the season. Even though he was injured, the Giants went on to win their second World Series in three years. After the season, the Giants decided not to offer him a new contract, making him a free agent. He was third all-time in saves for the Giants with 171.
Los Angeles Dodgers (2013–2014)
Brian Wilson wanted to fully recover from his surgery before signing with a new team. In July 2013, he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He joined the team in August and pitched very well for them. He had a 0.66 ERA in 18 games. He also pitched well in the playoffs, not giving up any runs until the Dodgers lost in the 2013 NLCS.
In December 2013, Brian signed a new contract to stay with the Dodgers. However, his performance was not as strong in 2014. He had a 4.66 ERA in 61 games. The Dodgers released him after that season.
Brian did not play in MLB in 2015 or 2016. In 2017, he announced he would try to make a comeback as a knuckleball pitcher.
Pitching Style
Brian Wilson was known as a power pitcher. He threw a fast four-seam fastball that went around 92-95 miles per hour. He also threw a slider, a cut fastball, and a two-seam fastball. His two-seam fastball would move dramatically as it reached the batter. He also tried throwing other pitches like curveballs and knuckleballs.
Brian believed that pitchers should not worry about what might happen in a game. They should just focus on throwing the ball.
Personal Life and Personality
Brian Wilson is famous for his fun and unique personality.
In the 2010 MLB All-Star Game, Brian wore bright orange cleats. He kept wearing them throughout the season. Another team's manager complained that the shoes were too bright. MLB fined Brian $1,000. He responded by coloring half of his shoes black with a marker. He joked that the shoes must be "performance-enhancing cleats."
Brian also had a large black beard, which he started growing during the Giants' playoff run in 2010. He said he wouldn't shave it until the Giants' season was over. Fans started growing their own beards or wearing fake ones. Many fans chanted "Fear the Beard!" His teammate Sergio Romo also grew a beard sometimes.
Brian has several tattoos. On his left shoulder, he has a dragon to honor his father. On his chest, he has "In nomine patris," which means "In the name of the father." On his right wrist, he has a Celtic cross with Gaelic words meaning "All Honor To Him." These tattoos show his Christian faith. He also has Japanese Kanji characters on his arm that mean "Father. Son. Eternal Strength."
Brian received a lot of media attention during his career. He appeared on TV shows like The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He also starred in commercials.
Brian became a Christian when he was 23. When he records a save, he crosses his arms and points to the sky. This gesture honors his Christian faith and his late father.
In 2011, Brian announced that he would create two scholarships for LSU Air Force ROTC students. This was in memory of his father, who was an Air Force veteran. Later that year, he gave away 1,000 baseball gloves to kids in a baseball program.
See also
In Spanish: Brian Wilson (beisbolista) para niños
- List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders
- List of San Francisco Giants team records
