By: Sam Jellinek
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - On the surface, Weston Wilson is in the exact same place he was a year ago. No, really, the exact same place. Wilson was on the Opening Day roster for the IronPigs in 2023 and he finds himself back on the Opening Day roster in 2024. But while the surface level details are the same, basically everything else has changed.
In the intervening year from when Wilson made his IronPigs debut, here’s a brief synopsis of what he managed to accomplish:
- Set the IronPigs single-season record for homer (31) surpassing Rhys Hoskins
- Became the first IronPigs to not only hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases, but became the first ‘Pig to go 30-30
- He set a franchise record for runs scored (90) in a season
- He made his Major League debut, getting called up by the Phillies last August and proceeded to homer in his very first plate appearance.
- He made the Phillies roster for the Wild Card round against the Miami Marlins
To simply say that Wilson is back on the IronPigs in 2024 completely misses the context and the situation that Wilson has played himself into. He is now on the Phillies 40-Man roster. He was one of the last cuts at Spring Training and figures to factor prominently into the Phillies plans should they need to replace somebody in the lineup.
“As a free agent sign, if you are going back to a place, it’s probably because you played well and they are offering you back, or you got called up and you’re on the 40-man. Obviously the latter is what happened,” Wilson explained. “I am back here in Lehigh Valley, and it’s a great spot to be in for Triple-A as far as facilities fans, we have a great coaching staff, a great team.”
One of the wilder parts of Wilson’s journey over the past year was how he struggled in his first month with the IronPigs. Trying to get his footing with a new organization, a strong start would go a long way to allowing Wilson to settle in. Instead, Wilson hit .189 in his first 26 games, including going 0-for-15 to close out the month. Despite the sluggish start, Wilson never panicked.
“I was hitting a lot of balls hard, so I never felt like I was struggling as bad as what my numbers were showing. I remember being frustrated when we were in Jacksonville, and my parents were there and I shared my frustrations with them. Our next series was in Syracuse and I watched some video to see what the difference was when I was doing really well in 2021. I remember being in Syracuse in the cage, taking a swing, and thinking ‘Oh my God’, that’s the swing, that’s what it felt like.”
From the start of that series in Syracuse until the end of the season (including his Major League numbers), Wilson slashed .277/.386/.539 with 27 homers and 32 stolen bases. What could have been the start of a downward spiral instead became a springboard that launched Wilson to his Major League debut.
“The Phillies when I showed up to camp (in 2023), told me we don’t care if you strike out. Just go out and play and be an athlete. I think that really gave me confidence, and AC (IronPigs Manager Anthony Contreras) was a big proponent of that as well. He told me, ‘You’re a really good player and athlete, sometimes you need to believe it a little more.’ Having a fresh set of eyes on me, in a new organization, getting told that right away gave me confidence that I can go out and fail, and not stress about it. I have a job to do and I have to perform, but coming to the organization being told that I probably would’ve been a bit more stressed about the start.”
When a spot on the Phillies Opening Day roster didn’t materialize for Wilson, he was ticketed to once again begin the season with Lehigh Valley. But if last year showed anything to Wilson, it’s not how (or even where) you start a season, it’s where you finish it.