Will Wilson Bio
William Bradley Wilson, known professionally as Will Wilson, is an American professional baseball infielder who is currently a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (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.
Born and raised in North Carolina, Wilson developed into one of the top collegiate position players in the country before beginning a professional journey that carried him through multiple organizations. A versatile defender capable of playing shortstop, second base, and third base, he reached the majors after years of steady development in the minor 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 community where he later attended high school, and his early athletic life was shaped by a love of multiple sports. Alongside baseball, Wilson also played football and basketball during middle school, an experience that helped him develop the hand-eye coordination and competitive habits that would later define his baseball career.
His mother, Robin, played softball at Winthrop, giving the family a direct connection to the sport. Wilson attended Kings Mountain High School in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, where he split his time between football and baseball for much of his teenage years. On the football field, he played nose guard before transitioning to quarterback, but he eventually quit the sport in order to concentrate fully on baseball.
As a senior, Wilson emerged as one of the most productive hitters in North Carolina, batting .535 with a .673 on-base percentage and 1.253 slugging percentage while hitting 14 home runs in 26 games. Despite that production, he went undrafted in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, a setback that pushed him toward the college ranks.
Path to Baseball
Following his high school career, Wilson enrolled at North Carolina State University to play college baseball for the NC State Wolfpack. He quickly established himself as a cornerstone of the program. In 2017, as a freshman, he started all 61 games at second base and batted .300 with 21 doubles, a total that tied for the conference lead and ranked as the second-highest by any freshman in the nation. He added eight home runs and 48 runs batted in, earning ACC All-Freshman Team honors along with Freshman All-American recognition from D1Baseball and Collegiate Baseball Magazine.
As a sophomore in 2018, Wilson moved to shortstop and continued his ascent, hitting .307 with 15 home runs and 53 runs batted in across 59 games. He was named ACC Player of the Week three times during the season, setting an NC State record, and was selected to the All-ACC First Team. Following that year, he represented the United States with the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
Before his junior season in 2019, Wilson was named a preseason All-American by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. He also earned ACC Defender of the Year honors and a second consecutive All-ACC First Team selection. He finished that campaign slashing .339/.425/.665 with 20 doubles, 16 home runs, and 57 runs batted in, cementing his status as a top professional prospect.
Will Wilson Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Wilson was considered one of the top prospects for the 2019 Major League Baseball draft and was selected by the Los Angeles Angels with the 15th overall pick. He signed with the organization on June 10, 2019, for a signing bonus of $3.4 million. He made his professional debut that summer with the Orem Owlz of the Rookie Advanced Pioneer League, where he appeared in 46 games and slashed .275/.328/.439 with five home runs and 18 runs batted in.
On December 10, 2019, Wilson was traded, along with Zack Cozart, to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. He did not appear in a game during the 2020 season because the minor league campaign was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting his development opportunities that year.
Minor League Development (2021–2024)
Wilson began 2021 with the Eugene Emeralds of the High-A West, where he slashed .251/.339/.497 with ten home runs and 26 runs batted in over 49 games, earning a midseason promotion to the Richmond Flying Squirrels of the Double-A Northeast. After the regular season, he was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Scottsdale Scorpions.
In 2022, Wilson returned to Richmond before a mid-May promotion to the Sacramento River Cats of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, though he was later reassigned to Richmond in late August. A combined 71 games across three affiliates produced a .250/.346/.452 slash line with 13 home runs and 38 runs batted in. In 2023, he split the year between Richmond and Sacramento, appearing in 128 games and posting career highs of 18 home runs and 66 runs batted in. He split 2024 between the same two affiliates as well, batting .216 with five home runs, 45 runs batted in, and six stolen bases across 110 appearances.
Cleveland Guardians Era (2025)
On December 11, 2024, the Cleveland Guardians selected Wilson in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft and assigned him to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. He opened 2025 by batting .324 with six home runs and 18 runs batted in across 18 games. On April 22, 2025, Wilson was added to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.
Wilson recorded his first major league hit the following day, in the bottom of the ninth inning against the New York Yankees. He went on to make 34 appearances for the Guardians during his rookie campaign, slashing .192/.267/.244 with two runs batted in and two stolen bases. On November 6, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Columbus, after which he rejected the assignment and elected free agency.
Notable Events and Milestones
Wilson’s professional journey includes several memorable markers, beginning with his selection as the 15th overall pick in the 2019 MLB draft. His first major league hit, delivered in the ninth inning against the New York Yankees in April 2025, stands as the defining moment of his brief MLB tenure to date.
Will Wilson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Wilson’s family has ties to competitive sports beyond his own career. His mother, Robin, played softball at Winthrop, and the influence of that athletic background helped shape his early commitment to baseball.
Personal Life
Wilson earned his finance degree from North Carolina State University in three years, completing his coursework while balancing a demanding collegiate baseball schedule. Public information about his broader personal life, including marital status, is not widely available.
2025 Season Performance
Will Wilson’s 2025 season marked his long-awaited arrival in Major League Baseball. After an outstanding start at Triple-A Columbus, where he batted .324 with six home runs and 18 runs batted in across 18 games, he was promoted to the majors in late April. His first big-league hit came against the New York Yankees, a milestone that capped a six-year climb through the minors.
During his rookie campaign with the Cleveland Guardians, Wilson appeared in 34 games and slashed .192/.267/.244 with two runs batted in and two stolen bases. His versatility allowed the club to deploy him at shortstop, second base, and third base, the same positions he had played throughout his minor league career. Following the season, he was removed from the 40-man roster and elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment to Columbus.
Looking ahead, Wilson enters free agency at age 27 with a blend of defensive flexibility and left-handed power potential that has long drawn interest from organizations. His 2025 debut provided a foundation to build on, and his next opportunity will likely depend on how clubs evaluate both his offensive upside and his ability to remain healthy through a full major league schedule.