No, I don't mean the General Manager. I mean, would Chris actually retire after sweeping Vancouver? And No, I don't mean any minor league coach with the name Wilson either. Though we do have a lot of those.
Just last week, Frank had announced he would retire at the end of this season. Just a quick recap, this is the same Frank Wilson that went 5 years without pitching in the middle of this career. Not in the pros. Not in the minors. Not overseas. Nowhere. He wasn't pitching. Only to emerge back in 2059 and not only set the Portland single season saves record, but also anchor a bullpen that went on to win the 2059 Brewster Title. After a very down 2062 season, the now 36 year old had decided it was time for good to hang up the cleats. Citing family reasons and time, Wilson had decided it was time to call it a career.
But the baseball gods intervened.
In his next trip to the mound after announcing retirement, Wednesday's road game in San Fernando, Wilson felt a pop in his throwing elbow on his final pitch. His final pitch was a swinging strike to Sonny Bigalow for his 2nd strikeout of the season. It'll be his last out ever recorded. An MRI after the game revealed that Wilson had torn a ligament in his throwing elbow. The tear will require season ending surgery. Thus meaning the end of his career.
"Clearly this was not how I wanted to end things" said a dejected Wilson. "I had hoped to pitch one more season, hopefully in the post-season again, and ride off into the sunset with my family. But that just wasn't meant to be."
When asked if the injury changes his plans for the future, Wilson responded "not at all. I'm done. I was at peace with my career ending after this season. No way I have the desire to have this surgery, rehab, and attempt to make one more run at an ending season. It's just time for me to hang them up for good."
Wilson will have the surgery and continue to be with the team through the conclusion of the season.
Wilson will retire as the franchise's leader in saves at 125. He possesses the top 2 single seasons in saves in the franchises history, saving 50 and 36 saves in 2059 and 2061 respectively. He'll retire with 9 big league seasons under his belt, the final 5 of which came in a Portland Lumberjacks uniform.
