Just as in spring training, expectations with Trevor Wilson changed rapidly.In spring training, the expectation was that he would make the Giants' rotation. According to the Houston Chronicle, he pitched himself back to the minors.
Called up May 30 after a Rick Reuschel injury, Wilson quickly moved expectations the other way.
In his second start of the year, his fourth appearance, Wilson not only made it to the ninth inning in that June 13 game, he made it to the ninth inning with a no-hitter. Only a fifth-inning wild pitch on strike three stood between him and a perfect game.
Then the Padres' Mike Pagliarulo put one in left-center, ending the no-hit bid.
"I didn't really expect to throw a no hitter," Wilson said in the Associated Press story on the completed one-hitter, "so when it didn't happen, it's not like a big panic. I really wanted to get it, but I guess I'll have to settle for a one-hitter."
Wilson had been with the Giants system since 1985, when he was taken in the eighth round. He made AAA in 1988, getting the September call-up to San Francisco.
His 1990 call-up, found Wilson making the rotation. He started 17 games in 1990; 29 in 1991 and 26 in 1992. His one-hitter aside, he had a respectable ERA, hovering around 4.00. But then a bad tendon derailed his career.
While all of baseball lost two months of 1994, Wilson lost the entire season. Surgery to repair the tendon meant he was waiting for 1995. He was ready again for the start of the year, making it clear in March that, if the strike was resolved, he would be ready to throw, but not necessarily at the plate.
"I'll remember - and I have the ball," Wilson said in controversial comments about replacement players in a Knight-Ridder story. "To me, if you cross, and you're a hitter, it's going to be hard to hit when you're always dodging."
But Wilson wouldn't be throwing for long. He started 17 games for the Giants in 1995. He missed 1996 and 1997 injured again, returning to the majors for 15 more games with the Angels in 1998 and his career was over.
Wilson returned to the Giants organization by 2000, serving as a pitching coach in the San Francisco system through 2006. By 2008, he was back with the Angels, serving as pitching coach for their rookie league team in Tempe, where he'll remain on for 2010. It was as pitching coach for Tempe, that Wilson saw three of his pitchers combine to complete a no-hitter, albeit a minor league one.
Wilson's playing days did include a completed feat several times more rare than a no-hitter. On June 7, 1992, in another ninth inning, Wilson was trying to complete a two hitter and struck out the side, doing so on nine pitches. There have been 263 no-hitters. The number of times the side has been struck out on nine pitches currently stands at 43.
- Rome News Tribune, Associated Press, June 14, 1990: Wilson one-hits Padres
- Houston Chronicle, June 23, 1990: Wilson swallows pride to improve
Cards Reviewed: 61/880 - 6.9%
Made the Majors: 37 - 61%
Never Made the Majors: 24 - 39%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 16
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 20
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