Your '09, ST Longshot Story
Written by Jay Yencich   
Saturday, 27 February 2010 14:18
Aside from Chad Cordero, whom we know from last season, the M’s don’t really have anyone fitting the spring training profile of the guy trying to make a comeback after a long layoff. Or rather, they didn’t, until yesterday. Meet Tom Wilhelmsen. He’s a right-hander and (surprise!) a former Brewer from Zduriencik’s time as the Director of Scouting. Wilhelmsen is a bit different though. For one, he’s twenty-six, and for another, he only had one season of pro ball under his belt.

To recap the points that Baker went over, Wilhelmsen was drafted in the 7th round of 2002. He signed too late to really make an impact that season, so he had to wait until the next season, when he got a few appearances in the AZL and then was promoted directly to Beloit, where he ran a pretty ERA, though his components were not totally amazing, 6.4 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, 8 H/9. Still, it was enough to get some people intrigued. By the end of the season, BA had ranked him as the number nine prospect in the league, talking up his heater, which was in the 92-4 range and touching the upper 90s, and his secondary offerings, which were unusually polished for a kid his age. He was still learning how to use them, which led to some lackluster results, but he seemed to have a bright future ahead of him. The only concerns were that his makeup was a bit off.

About that... He ended up being suspended by the Brewers twice for substance abuse violations. The nature of these I don’t really care to look into, as I’m willing to let it slide in the hopes that he’s put it behind him, but it was nonetheless a serious issue. He pitched with the Tucson Toros in the Golden League last season, garnering enough interest from his original club to re-sign him, but that was late in the season and he was released without making an appearance. Now he’s with the M’s, hoping to latch on with a full-season club when the camp breaks a little over a month from now.

A little human interest story for your spring training consumption.


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Comments (6)Add Comment
Also arm surgery
written by lailoken, February 28, 2010
Word is that the Brewers released him this last time round because he had some sort of arm surgery. He might not throw from a mound for awhile.
That would be a new development.
written by Jay Yencich, February 28, 2010
Either way, they signed him, as well as RHP Pat Bresnehan, while leaving Baek in a box on US-60 that read "(nearly) free to good home".
Breshnehan
written by lailoken, February 28, 2010
Breshnehan is interesting too. Former 5th round pick, still just 24, far too many walks last year but he has allowed less than a hit an inning every step up the ladder with a fair strikeout rate. Seems like a nice flier. Besides starting to walk the world last year there's a lot to like.
Feature Story
written by lailoken, March 01, 2010
http://seattletimes.nwsource.c...ari02.html
Interesting...
written by Lonnie, March 02, 2010
I find it interesting that Zduriencik is able to find these guys (even though he had some prior knowledge of Wilhelmsen), and it begs a question. How many guys like this fall through the cracks each and every year? Whether it's a lack of performance or a behavior issue, or whatever, it sure seems like there is a lot of talent that gets tossed to the side of the road in MLB.

Lonnie
...
written by Jay Yencich, March 02, 2010
Whether it's a lack of performance or a behavior issue, or whatever, it sure seems like there is a lot of talent that gets tossed to the side of the road in MLB.

It's not quite so bad now that international prospects are on equal footing with domestics. Some of that stuff was heartbreaking. But guys do fall through all the time, for one reason or another. The more you pay attention, the more you're likely to hear something from the guys who have been around a while, but it's not something that's often material for stories.

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