It was seemingly always a matter of when and not if for Luke Wilson.
The son of long-time major-leaguer Craig Wilson — a second-round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays back in 1995 who enjoyed a 14-year pro career, including seven years in “The Show” with the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves — the California native has been something of a pop-up prospect of late, rocketing up any reputable lists taking a look at 2024 grads.
Now, the 5-foot-9, 155-pound outfielder is set to show what he can do on the big stage himself, set to suit up for the Orange Team at the upcoming New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series Main Event at Fenway Park, set to be held from September 29-October 1.
“The most exciting thing for me about playing at Fenway is having the ability to play in a stadium that my dad once played in,” Luke Wilson said. “My dad, Craig, played for the Pirates, Yankees and Braves, and to have the opportunity to play on a field where he did is a dream come true. Hopefully I will have an extra-base hit or stolen base to say I have done something there that he didn’t.”
Playing in the National League the majority of his career before interleague play was as big as it was now, Craig Wilson appeared in just five games at Fenway, all of them with the Yankees in 2006. With a smaller build than his famous father, who was listed at 6-foot-2, 217 pounds during his playing career, it’s been something of a more challenging path for the younger Wilson, who has done nothing but show he’s more than capable of handling the next levels at FSS events.
He’s excited to get to try to do it again in Boston.
“With all the scouts there, I am hoping to show them exactly who I am,” Wilson said. “A good defensive outfielder who runs well and gives my all 100 percent of the time.”
First day of the @ftrstarsseries national combine. 3-3 at the plate. 2B, drag bunt for hit, 1B to RF.@_JeremyBooth @chriscapozzi5 @tromblybaseball @ServiteFriarsBB @Albinorhino36 @ftrstarsseries pic.twitter.com/TI0dHO46di
— Luke Wilson (@luke_wil_son) July 4, 2023
A Trombly Baseball standout, Wilson impressed the scouting and development staffs at every step, including a strong showing at the most recent National Combine in Nashville; where scouts noted he has the speed to stay in center field and “(is an) alert and confident aggressive player…earns what he gets and competes…all heart.”
As much as the FSS has enjoyed having Wilson on board, he’s enjoyed being a part of it just as much.
“My experience with Future Stars Series has been awesome,” Wilson said. “It started with an amazing workout at Pepperdine University with Jeremy Booth and his incredible staff, then progressed to the Championship in Nashville and National Combine. I really enjoyed getting to know players from all over the country.”
He’s also put in the work since then, making sure he’ll be able to handle moving around the outfield at the Main Event and beyond if needed.
“Since the Combine, I have been working on my mental game and playing all outfield positions,” he said. “I am primarily a center fielder and rarely have the opportunity to play left or right field. People say, if you can play centerfield well, you can play all three outfield spots. I pride myself on my defense so playing each outfield position to the absolute best of my ability has been a key focus before heading to Boston.”
