This time next week, Weston Wilson will be assigned to his new team in the Milwaukee organization. The Clemson Tiger was drafted on Saturday by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 17th round of the Major League Baseball Draft.
Wilson confirmed The Clemson Insider’s earlier reports that he will indeed sign with the Brewers and forgo his senior at Clemson.
“I had the chance out of high school (to go pro), but I came to Clemson because it could help prepare me more for professional baseball,” the second baseman said to TCI on Saturday. “The things that I learned in the last three years have been a blessing to me just because it was stuff that I dealt with at Clemson that I had not in high school. If I had to deal with that professionally, it would have been a lot tougher.
“I think being able to deal with failure for the first time, really, and experiencing what it was like to play on a true team, that was good for me at Clemson. For that, I will forever be thankful.”
Wilson says he is excited to start the next chapter in his life.
“It feels awesome. It has always been a dream of mine to play professional baseball,” he said. “This is the first step, and I’m glad to have the opportunity the Brewers gave me.
“It’s very exciting. I’m anxious to see what it is like.”
The Brewers will get a middle infielder who shows a lot of potential and a lot of range. After playing third base as a sophomore, Wilson moved back to a more natural position at second base, and his comfort level there played a key role in why his errors dropped from 19 to 11 in 2016.
Wilson ranked fourth on the team this season with a .279 batting average. He had seven home runs and 45 RBIs as well. His slugging percentage was .434 and he had a .343 on base percentage. He also had eight stolen bases.
“Playing pro baseball will be a little different, but it is the same game,” Wilson said.
Wilson says he is two semesters out from finishing school. He says in his contract the Brewers will pay for the two semesters, but, depending on baseball, he isn’t sure when he will come back to school and get his degree.
However, he is very thankful for the opportunity Clemson gave him, and he will forever be a Clemson Tiger.
“When I first got to Clemson everyone was very welcoming. I was not sure what it was going to be like. But over the past three years, the team kept getting closer and closer, and this year, for me, it felt like it was the best year,” Wilson said. “The team gelled better than any other year and I think that is why we had success this year. It was because of how much we relied on each other and cared for each other.”
Now that he is headed off to the professional ranks, Wilson says he can’t wait to see what the future holds for the Clemson program under Monte Lee.
“They have a very good head coach in Monte Lee, and with the assistant coaches. I’m excited to see what happens in the future with the program.”