Mike Wilson was selected out of Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma by the Mariners in the 2001 draft, in a second round now highlighted by Dan Haren, J.J. Hardy and Brandon League. Wilson was set to play linebacker for the University of Oklahoma Sooners on a football scholarship but signed with Pat Gillick’s Mariners instead so he could play the sport he preferred.  The following season the 19 year old Wilson made his debut in Arizona.

Wilson had started switch hitting as a senior in high school, but gave it up after no more than a couple seasons of pro ball.  Wilson started making a name for himself with his impressive raw power, but pitch recognition and strikeouts held him back.  He strung up a few decent seasons between 2003 and 2006 before running into serious trouble in 2007.  Following an abysmal start for AA West Tenn, Wilson tore a quad, missed a bunch of time, then strained the muscle again upon returning.  The 24 year old only made it into 57 games that season.

2008 was a big bounce back year for Wilson as he put up a career high slugging percentage (.549), OPS (.938) and home run total (27) in 119 games.  Wilson still wasn’t considered a big prospect, however.  He was 25 at this point, had just completed his third consecutive season in which he’d spent significant time at the AA level and his strikeouts were still a bit of a problem.

Wilson, added to the 40-man roster at this point, turned some heads the following Spring Training as he attempted to jump onto the big league club, but was ultimately waived to make room for Ken Griffey Jr.  Wilson cleared, re-signed with Seattle and headed to AAA Tacoma.  2009 was another lost season, however, as Wilson missed significant time with an ankle injury and struggled to get anything done in Tacoma as he was sent back to West Tenn.

Mike Wilson turned 27 years old this season.  He started the year with another nice Spring Training, but was cut towards the end of February and sent back to West Tenn to make room for younger, more promising prospects in Tacoma.  Healthy again, Wilson picked up where he left off in 2007, mashing his way to a .292/.402/.585 line through 29 games, prompting a callup to Tacoma.  The promotion didn’t slow Wilson down.  Through 71 games with Tacoma Wilson is hitting .297/.381/.559, bringing his combined season line to .296/.388/.567 with 24 homers, all while putting up the lowest strikeout rate of his career.

Given Seattle’s complete lack of offense this season, it’s easy to see why Wilson’s name is coming up as a possible solution.  Can Wilson be a productive player for the Seattle Mariners?

The age leads a lot of people to just write Wilson off completely, but I’d wager that there is a slight difference between a 27 year old who was held up by injuries and a 27 year old who has simply mastered the level in AAAA fashion.  2010 is Wilson’s longest and most successful stint in AAA.  Injuries are not completely to blame, however– it’s not as if Wilson is a former top 5 prospect who has been derailed– but neither is the “late bloomer” merely a baseball myth.  Rare, sure, but it happens.

It’s not as if Wilson is succeeding without us knowing why.  He has a big league power tool, and he walks at a decent clip.  This season it looks like he’s modified his approach, being a little more aggressive (fewer walks) but cutting way down on the number of called strikeouts getting called against him, something that was a problem in the past.  A hitter can’t be afraid to hit with two strikes, but constantly getting into two strike counts is just playing with fire.  Ask Chone Figgins.

I can’t say whether or not Wilson can be effective at the next level.  His path to the minor leagues’ highest level has not been swift, but he’s done what he needs to do.  He’s made himself into a good AAA player, which is all we can ask for at this point.  And it’s not just the bat that’s come around; he is still plenty athletic enough to hold down a corner outfield spot.  Now he just needs to wait for a chance.

And he may not get one in Seattle barring injury.  Ichiro and Franklin Gutierrez aren’t going anywhere and Michael Saunders has more upside than that of Wilson, justifying giving him the playing time.  And now with Justin Smoak and Russell Branyan in the fold along with Milton Bradley, DH at bats aren’t easy to come by.

Seattle may give him a courtesy callup in September and, if he’s retained over the offseason, may allow him to compete for a 4th outfielder/left field platoon position if there is one available, but there isn’t a clear path to the majors for Wilson at this point.

Wilson deserves a shot, but he might have to get it elsewhere.  I hope to see him in Spring Training with Seattle, however.