Adopt-A-Prospect page for Kenny Wilson

 

April 24, 2014: The Twins have claimed outfielder Kenny Wilson off waivers from the Blue Jays ...

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/04/twins-claim-kenny-wilson-from-blue-jays.html

 

He has been assigned to AA New Britain.

 

 

Player: Kenneth Earl Wilson Jr.

Twitter: @ItsKennyWilson

Born: 01/30/1990 (24)

Birthplace: Tampa, FL

Height: 5’11"

Weight: 195

Position: CF

Bats: R

Throws: R

Drafted: 2008, Blue Jays, 2nd round (#63 overall)

BA Prospect Ranking: #22 in Blue Jays organization 2014

 

Kenny was a switch hitter but gave it up starting in 2012. Until that change his batting average at various minor league levels had fluctuated in the .200-.210 range, while afterward it took a jump to the .260-.270 range. He walks enough to tack on around .080-.100 for his OBP, most years.

 

He has had good success stealing bases, registering them at a rate of 40+ per season.

 

He is strikeout prone, racking up 100+ per season. Unfortunately this is not compensated by home run power, nor does he hit particularly many doubles and triples.

 

On the defensive side, he has played the vast majority of his time in CF. Presumably this means his D has been acceptable for that critical position; this article from a few years ago describes him as well above average but I suspect that, like all the children at Lake Wobegon, most center fielders are.

 

He spent some time with injuries in 2011 (torn labrum) and 2013 (shin stress fracture); but he was healthy enough to go to the Arizona Fall League in 2013, and then the Jays added him to their 40-man roster to avoid exposing him to the Rule 5 draft.

 

Baseball-reference.com lists him as Kenneth E. Wilson, but in this article he mentions his father as Kenneth Earl Wilson Sr. So I am going out on a limb and attaching the full name with Jr. to him.

Edited April 25, 201412 yr by ashburyjohn

A 24 year old OF with a .210/.239/.306 (.545) slash line in AA.

 

Um, why would they pick him up? Any help here? Are we shy in our AA OF?

Here is a video compilation of him batting in the Arizona Fall League this past season:

 

[video=youtube;Xp_8M2XCbZA]

Edited April 25, 201412 yr by ashburyjohn

With mom and dad as a Sickles High School senior:

 

Edited April 25, 201412 yr by ashburyjohn

A 24 year old OF with a .210/.239/.306 (.545) slash line in AA.

 

Um, why would they pick him up? Any help here? Are we shy in our AA OF?

 

15 games... and they can use an OF, especially a CF.

Judging by his stats it looks like he has some pretty good speed

Kenny's debut with the Rock Cats was delayed a day by rain, but in the makeup doubleheader (which the team split) on April 26 he went a combined 2 for 7 including a double, with a walk, and scored one run along with achieving a stolen base. He did strike out twice, but that is nothing new; and on the defensive side he registered two putouts. He batted second in the lineup behind Corey Wimberly in game one, and was leadoff in the second game.

Kenny has been swinging the bat for the Rock Cats after a somewhat slow start, and his batting average for them is up to .292. He has struck out 3 times in 29 PA, somewhat below his established norm, and even though this is still just a Small Sample Size, larger samples come from continue success in the small scale. He's also doubled a couple of times, stolen a couple of bases, and walked four times. All this leads to an OPS for New Britain of .789, based on a very high rate of getting on base and not a lot of power. It's a little disturbing that he has committed two errors in his short time, but let's chalk that up to nerves and maybe trying to do too much to impress his new team, OK?

 

#MNTwins activate Aaron Hicks from 7-day concussion list. Chris Parmelee's contract purchased from Triple-A Rochester. Kenny Wilson DFA'd.

 

Kenny is currently OPSing .595 for New Britain. Stay tuned as to whether he remains with the club.

Word is that Kenny Wilson has been claimed on waivers by the Blue Jays. Re-claimed, I should say.

 

 

This ends the updates in this corner - until such day as the Blue Jays DFA him again. Good luck to you Kenneth. My bit of researching info on you leads me to believe you're a quality individual.

Edited May 11, 201412 yr by ashburyjohn

No candle light vigil?