C. J. Wilson

Infobox MLB player
name=C.J. Wilson


position=Relief pitcher
team=Texas Rangers
number=36
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date and age|1980|11|18
birthplace=city-state|Newport Beach|California
debutdate=June 10
debutyear=2005
debutteam=Texas Rangers
statyear=2008 season
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=7-14
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=4.83
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=177
stat4label=Saves
stat4value=38
teams=
*Texas Rangers (by|2005-present):"This article is about the baseball player, for the football player, see C. J. Wilson (football player)."Christopher John "C.J." Wilson (born November 18, 1980 in Newport Beach, California) is a left-handed relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers, currently serving as their closer.

College

After attending Fountain Valley High School (graduating 1998), Wilson played at Santa Ana Junior College where in by|2000 he was awarded MVP of the Orange Empire Conference, and the California Junior College Co-Player of the year award. Wilson played outfield, first base, started, and relieved at Loyola Marymount University during the by|2001 season.

Wilson was drafted by the Rangers in the fifth round (141^st overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft.

Professional career

After starting the 2001 season in Pulaski of the Appalachian League he was promoted to Single-A with the Savannah Sand Gnats. Moving though High-A Charlotte (Florida State League) and into Double-A Tulsa (Texas League) by late by|2002.

For by|2003, Wilson returned to Double-A in Frisco of the Texas League, earning Pitcher of the Week honors in May. His up and down season was cut short due to injury when Dr. Lewis Yocum performed season ending Tommy John surgery on August 12.

After missing all of 2004 due to the elbow injury, Wilson was able to return to Double-A in by|2005 before being called up to the majors later that season. He posted a 1-7 record and 6.94 ERA in 24 games during his rookie campaign with the Rangers. Later in the season, Texas placed him in the bullpen full-time where he went 1-2 with a 2.73 ERA in 18 relief appearances.

He started the mlby|2006 season on the 15-day disabled list with a strained hamstring before returning to the team going 1-2 with a 5.16 ERA with the Rangers before getting optioned to Triple-A on June 1. While in the minors, he went 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA with two saves, and in 11 innings, he struck out 17 and walked five in nine appearances. After being recalled July 18, Wilson ended the season strong, posting second half numbers of a 3.29 ERA in 24 2/3 innings and 27 appearances and ending the season as the team's top left-handed setup man, posting a 2-4 record and 4.06 ERA overall for Texas. He proved especially tough against lefties, with an ERA of 1.77 with 19 strikeouts in 20⅓ innings.

Following the trade of Eric Gagné, Wilson was used to close out games for the Rangers in mlby|2007 converting his first 11 consecutive chances. Overall, he finished with career bests in: ERA (3.03), Appearances (66), Innings (68.1), Strikeouts (63), WHIP (1.21), Holds (15), and Opposing Avg (.208).

Pitching technique

Wilson's pitching repertoire includes a fastball, hard sinker, slider, and changeup, thrown from both overhand and low 3/4 arm angles. [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2007/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=2800751] Wilson has also confirmed on his MySpace blog that he throws the gyroball, a pitch used by some Japanese pitchers and frequently attributed to Boston Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Personal life and beliefs

Wilson is a devoted Taoist and also adheres to a "Straight Edge" way of life (in which one abstains from alcohol, illegal drugs, and promiscuous sex in order to maintain a healthy and poison-free body). As a sign of his choice and pride of being Straight Edge, Wilson has the words "Straight Edge" tattooed along the length of his torso, Japanese characters on his shoulder that read "Poison Free" and "XXX" stitched on his blue glove as a straight edge symbol. Wilson is highly interested in politics, which he said is in stark contrast to other Major League baseball players in an interview with ESPN.com's Page 2. [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=pearlman/080222] His characterizations of typical ballplayers in this same interview and some of his posts on the blog lonestarball.com generated minor controversy within the Rangers' clubhouse. [http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/022708dnsporangsider.2cb3b7b.html]

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/blueglovelefty MySpace page]
* [http://cjwilson.mlblogs.com/ Scorpion Tales - CJ Wilson's blog]