One on one with … Craig Wilson of Pirates

Sporting News, The, June 7, 2004 by Tom Gatto

The Pirates' Craig Wilson is making the most of his first fulltime opportunity in the majors. The outfielder/first baseman entered the week leading the club in RBIs and tied for the lead in homers. He was fifth in the National League in batting at .349 and fourth in on-base/ slugging percentage at 1.074.

TSN: What's the biggest reason for your fast start?

CW: I just think it's getting the chance to play every day. I got into a good groove in spring training and kept rolling that over.

TSN: Anyone instrumental in helping you improve at the plate?

CW: (Hitting coach) Gerald (Perry) has done a good job working with me in the cages.

TSN: You play all over--infield, outfield. Which position do you feel you're strongest defensively?

CW: I just check the lineup, find out which glove I need and grab it and go out.

TSN: You were a catcher early in your career. Does that help you at the plate?

CW: I guess maybe a little bit, but not much. I don't want to go out there and start guessing what I would call as a pitch.

TSN: You've been with this organization for a while ...

CW: I came over in '97 (in a nine-player trade with the Blue Jays).

TSN: And you and Abraham Nunez are the two guys left from that deal. You've got a few years in the majors, where maybe you can become part of a leadership group on this team.

CW: I don't know about leadership. I'll help out whoever I can help out, but I think everyone up here pretty much knows what job they need to get done, and they just go out and get it done.

TSN: It's a bunched-up N.L. Central division right now. It's got to be exciting for you guys to know that if you get on a good run you'll be right up there in midseason.

CW: It's definitely a tough division. I think any one of the six teams at any time can go in and beat up on the other ones. I think that's probably going to happen throughout the year--teams are going to beat up on each other. Hopefully, come September, we'll still be pretty close to the top.

TSN: You've been a big strikeout guy (one every 3.28 at-bats lifetime, and 50 in 175 at-bats this season). Now that you've got the production, are you going to try to change the big swing, or is it just something you're still going to do because it's comfortable for you?

CW: I'm not going to go up there and try to change much. Hopefully, before Strike 3 comes, I'll put one of the balls in play.