Drafted in the 5th round (141st overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2002.
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Last year, C Neil Wilson was on the same Vero Beach High team as eventual Pirates draft pick Chris Torres, so Wilson played more at shortstop and third base. Now that he's behind the plate, he has emerged as an all-around backstop with a strong arm.
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Wilson is a sleeper who has been a catcher for just two years. He played shortstop in high school in 2001 because he was a year behind Pirates draftee Chris Torres. Wilson, whose older brother Andy is an outfielder in the Mets system, has been limited to 60 games in his two pro seasons. He shared the catching job at Casper in 2002, then had his 2003 season truncated by a right wrist injury. Wilson has the offensive potential to be a run-producing catcher. He can drive the ball and showed improved plate discipline last year. The key will be how well Wilson develops behind the plate. He does move well and has excellent arm strength. He's still learning the mechanics behind the plate and trying to smooth out his footwork, the biggest reason why he has thrown out just 18 percent of basestealers as a pro. He has benefited from spending the last two years with Casper manager P.J. Carey, one of the best catching instructors in the game. Wilson should move to low Class A in 2004.
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Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the California League in 2007
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