BlueClaws' outfielder Ethan Wilson becoming solid Philadelphia Phillies' prospect

The adjustment from high school baseball to college was a statistically smooth transition for Ethan Wilson. The Phillies second round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft smashed 17 home runs in 2019, earning Sun Belt Conference Player of the year as a freshman.

The transition from South Alabama University to minor league baseball was not as seamless.

After struggling in his debut season in 2021 and in the first month of this season, in May, the BlueClaws outfielder finally found his productive stroke in professional baseball.

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“It was definitely an adjustment for me. The wood bats are a lot different than aluminum obviously,” Wilson said. “The sweet spot (of the bat) is not as big, pitchers throw harder, so just a lot of different things.”

Down in the slumps

Playing 30 games for the Low-A Clearwater Thrashers in 2021, Wilson struggled, hitting .215 in 107 at-bats.

Wilson added a daily routine in hopes of improving his production.

“Last year in pro ball, I was a spaz, I didn’t have any routine or anything,” Wilson said. “And when I was going bad, I would be down in the dumps all the time and when I was good, I would be high.”

However, now at High-A with Jersey Shore, Wilson continued to stumble at the plate. In his first 18 games Wilson had a batting average of .200, right at the dreaded Mendoza line.

Wilson admitted to feeling pressure to perform after his early struggles. Then at his lowest, he showed signs of the hitter many hoped to see when he was drafted 49th overall.

“Baseball’s a roller coaster ride. You’re going to have months where you’re hitting below .100 and you’re going to have months where you’re hitting .400. So, it’s just trying to show up and be the same person every day,” the outfielder explained.

With a consistent routine now in his arsenal and being more adjusted to the professional level, Wilson started to live up to the potential of a player ranked as the seventh-best prospect in the Philadelphia farm system by MLB Pipeline. Wilson’s batting average was .282 in 28 games during May.

“To me, it’s just (Wilson’s) consistency period. Like everything he does, like everything, every single thing has been consistent. It’s in how he prepares, how he does his routine, how he prepares for a pitcher,” BlueClaws' hitting coach Ari Adut said.

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More than just power

Wilson entered the MLB Draft still carrying the reputation of a home run machine, but this was not how he saw himself.

Wilson said he's “just a competitor. A lot of people thought that I was just going to be a power hitter. But I’m just a hitter just trying to do whatever I can do to help the team win.”

Often hitting third in the BlueClaws' lineup, his talent and importance to manager Keith Werman’s team is evident.

“Oh, he’s huge, he’s not just a threat offensively, when he gets on the bases he can be a threat too,” Werman said of Wilson, who has already stolen 16 bases this season. “And even defensively his routes in the outfield have improved. It’s great when you can get some speed in front of him and get him to the plate, and you know something’s going to happen.”

Wilson, 22, is still young and has plenty of time to develop. Right now, the Alabama native’s focus is on being the best version of himself.

“Obviously there’s only one Bryce Harper out there and there’s only one Ethan Wilson. I’m trying to find out what I do best and just roll with it,” Wilson said.

If all of Wilson’s attributes assemble into the ideal package, there’s little reason he can’t fulfill his goal of playing in the big leagues.

“He’s pretty special,” Werman said flashing an excited smile. “Most definitely I can see him being a big leaguer, being an elite player for us in the outfield and helping us win a championship.”

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: BlueClaws' Ethan Wilson becomes solid Philadelphia Phillies' prospect