Marcus Wilson (baseball) facts for kids

Marcus Wilson, born on August 15, 1996, is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He played as an Outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB), most notably for the Seattle Mariners.

Marcus Wilson's Baseball Journey

Marcus Wilson had an interesting journey through professional baseball. He played for several teams before reaching the major leagues.

Starting with the Diamondbacks

Marcus went to Junípero Serra High School in Gardena, California. He was good at both baseball and high school football. In 2014, the Arizona Diamondbacks picked him in the second round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft. This meant they wanted him to play for their team.

He started his professional career with the Arizona League Diamondbacks in 2014. He played in 39 games and hit one Home run with 22 RBIs. RBIs are runs that a player helps their team score.

In 2015, Marcus played for the Missoula Osprey. He hit one home run and had 22 RBIs in 57 games. The next year, 2016, he split his time between the Hillsboro Hops and the Kane County Cougars. He played 69 games, hitting one home run and getting 20 RBIs.

Marcus returned to the Kane County Cougars in 2017. He played in 103 games, hitting nine home runs and getting 54 RBIs. In 2018, he played 111 games for the Visalia Rawhide, hitting 10 home runs and getting 48 RBIs. He started the 2019 season with the Double-A Jackson Generals.

Playing for the Red Sox

On April 19, 2019, the Diamondbacks traded Marcus to the Boston Red Sox. A "trade" in baseball means one team gives a player to another team, often in exchange for a different player.

Marcus started with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs. He then spent two months with the Class A-Advanced Salem Red Sox before going back to Portland. In 2019, playing for three different teams, he appeared in 119 games. He hit 18 home runs and had 58 RBIs. After this season, he played in the Arizona Fall League, which is a league for top minor league players.

The Red Sox added Marcus to their 40-man roster after the 2019 season. Being on the 40-man roster means a player is closer to playing in the major leagues. He was sent to Double-A Portland in March 2020. However, he did not play that year because the minor league season was canceled.

He played one game in the Mexican Pacific League during the winter of 2020–21. But he left when the league shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Marcus started the 2021 season in Triple-A with the Worcester Red Sox. On July 30, he was "designated for assignment." This means the team removed him from their 40-man roster to make space for another player.

Time with the Seattle Mariners

On August 2, 2021, the Seattle Mariners picked Marcus up off of "waivers." This means they claimed him after the Red Sox removed him from their roster. He was then sent to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.

On June 29, 2022, Marcus was added to the Mariners' 40-man roster and called up to the major leagues. He was needed because another player was injured. He made his major league debut that same day as a pinch hitter against the Baltimore Orioles. A pinch hitter is a player who bats in place of another player.

On July 4, Marcus got his first ever major league hit! It was a single against Sean Manaea of the San Diego Padres. On July 30, he was again designated for assignment. On August 1, he was sent back to Triple-A. On October 14, Marcus chose to become a "free agent," meaning he could sign with any team he wanted.

Back to the Red Sox

On February 17, 2023, Marcus signed a minor-league contract to play for the Boston Red Sox again. He played in 37 games for the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox. He hit one home run and had 4 RBIs. On July 25, the Red Sox released him from his contract.

Retirement from Baseball

On March 10, 2024, Marcus Wilson announced that he was retiring from professional baseball.