Tommy Wilson back in a team's future plans after Orioles trade

Tommy Wilson's interest in the Triple-A Rule 5 draft hovered at such a low level that it kept him away from the online broadcast and couldn't interrupt his daily workouts at Cal State-Fullerton.

He grabbed his phone and checked social media on a couple of occasions, wondering whether he'd leave the Mets organization. Much closer to curiosity than obsessing.

"I didn't know if I was protected or not, so I was kind of waiting to see or waiting to hear," he said. "Then I found out on Twitter. I just saw my name pop up."

The Mariners selected Wilson in the third round and called about 30 minutes later with more news. He was going to be traded to the Orioles, who already had negotiated the deal.

"It was wild, for sure," Wilson said earlier this week. "It's definitely cool to get picked and to know that there's organizations out there that value my talent and who I am as a player and a pitcher.

"The Mariners let me know that it was all planned and that the Orioles didn't have enough picks, but they wanted me, so they asked the Mariners to pick me and then they made the trade. So, it was a pretty wild day, but I'm definitely thankful for the new opportunity."

An offseason in Orange County, Calif. has been anything but typical for Wilson, 25, a 19th-round draft pick of the Mets in 2018. Two new teams in one afternoon.

But Wilson doesn't fit easily in a baseball mold. It can't confine or define him.

Check out his Twitter account (@Tommy_Wilson_) and notice how he's described first as a digital artist. Do a quick internet search and discover stories about his famous father, actor Thomas F. Wilson, who played Biff Tannen in the "Back to the Future" movie franchise.

The son has his own comedic timing, as evidenced by his tweet following the rapid trade to the Orioles:

"Would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the @Mariners organization for everything they've done for me!! It's been a fantastic few hours with you all and I'm thankful for the opportunity. Let's do this thing @Orioles"

They're happy to oblige, again addressing their pitching depth with a right-hander who's 10-7 with a 3.28 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 42 career games, including 21 starts. He registered a 2.35 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and .182 average against in 10 relief appearances this summer with Double-A Binghamton, striking out 18 batters in 15 1/3 innings.

The Orioles sent cash to the Mariners in exchange for Wilson, who might have been blocked on a Mets team that is spending big in an attempt to reach the World Series in 2022. The terrain isn't as bumpy for a minor leaguer trying to debut in a rebuild.

"I definitely see it as an opportunity," he said. "I think I could make an impact probably sooner rather than with the Mets, who are kind of in a win-now situation, as far as I can see, with paying for free agents and whatnot. It's not as easy for guys like me to make their way up, so I'm happy to have the opportunity with the Orioles and I think I can make an impact sooner. I'm definitely stoked."

The Orioles are getting the healthier version of Wilson, who didn't make his first appearance until June 24 and returned to the injured list in early September.

"Before spring training I had a bit of a shoulder bug," he said. "I was rehabbing from biceps tendinitis for the first two, 2 1/2 months of the season, so it took out a big chunk of my season."

Wilson has returned to his old delivery after making a change at the urging of Los Angeles Pierce College head coach Bill Picketts, who suggested that he remove the ball early from his glove and basically hide it behind his left knee. A way to prevent Wilson's arm from dragging and to increase velocity and improve accuracy.

The feedback from opposing hitters was positive, how Wilson hid the ball, but he didn't stick with it.

"I started doing that as a drill or a cue to get my arm up quicker," he said. "I did that from junior college all the way through the 2019 season and then I switched back during COVID, in quarantine, like my normal mechanics without breaking early, just because I was facing higher-level guys who could see the grip out of my glove. I changed it back and figured out how to get my arm up in time without doing that."

Wilson's exposure to analytics will increase with his new organization. He's familiar with some of the data and gained a better understanding of his strengths and weaknesses compared to the day he was drafted.

"I didn't really know much about spin rates and vertical break, all this stuff, until pro ball, and even now I'm still learning, as many of us are," he said.

"I've heard fantastic things about the Orioles organization in regard to analytics. I'm definitely curious to hear what they have to say about my stuff, my mechanics and whatnot."

His exploration of creative outlets led him to crypto art - digital art that is treated like the physical variety by the ability to gain verified ownership. An NFT, or non-fungible token, is used as a means for purchasing the piece. The lack of interchangeability distinguishes them from blockchain cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.

It also led Wilson to former major league second baseman Micah Johnson, who retired in 2018, pursued his passion for art by opening a studio in New Hampshire and ventured into crypto and NFTs.

"I've always had a creative family and artistic background, so I've always dabbled with digital animation, video editing, stuff like that," Wilson said. "I ended up connecting with Micah and helped him out with this art piece, helped him animating it, and it turned out that it was an NFT, so I kind of just dove head-first into NFTs and created my own digital art.

"I could talk to you about (NFTs) for hours on end, and it's kind of tough to wrap your head around at first, but that's my quick elevator pitch."

And this one doesn't come with a spin rate.

One of Wilson's first physical art pieces related to baseball. He customized a pair of spikes for Mets pitcher Tylor Megill.

"That was cool," he said, "but I've mostly done digital art, which is like 2D or 3D art on my computer."

Wilson can't find many teammates who share his hobby or have much of an understanding. He's more than willing to talk about it and allows them to check out his work.

Not your typical clubhouse banter.

"I'd say it's pretty unique," he said. "I haven't run into too many guys who have the same interest, but guys are definitely interested and I'll pass along my iPad every once in a while and kind of let guys doodle. So, guys are intrigued, I'd say."

How many teammates can brag about their fathers portraying an iconic high school bully on film?

The original "Back to the Future" was released in July 1985, 11 years before Wilson was born. People learn of the connection, light up, and want to hear stories about Biff and the other Tannen characters that Thomas brought to the big screen.

"It's pretty standard," Wilson said. "Anytime I end up in a new place, whether it's college or with the Orioles, everybody ends up finding out. It's the same reaction everywhere I go.

"It's been a part of my whole life. I've never known anything different and it's definitely cool. It's just been a part of me, part of my dad's life. I think my dad did a fantastic job in the movies and that's why people are so attached to these movies and why they've lasted, like, 40 years past when they came out. I'm proud to say my dad was part of it."

These are footsteps that Wilson didn't want to follow.

He'd rather step on a mound than into character.

"I could never get into it," he said. "I would not be good at it at all. I don't foresee myself even giving it a shot."

Thomas Wilson was happy that his son preferred holding a baseball to a script. Athletics were encouraged. Running sprints beat running lines.

"The acting business is very, not really dog eat dog, but it's super competitive and everybody's kind of on their own and trying to fight for their spot," Tommy Wilson said. "If anything, it was discouraged. It ended up working out because I'll never get the chance anyway."

Though acting gigs can pull Wilson's father away from the family, he's attended lots of games and was in the stands on the night in 2019 when Tommy collected his first hit.

"He's one of my biggest fans," Wilson said, "so I very much appreciate his support, as well as my mom's support."

Perhaps Thomas and Caroline Wilson will get a chance to sit in the family section at Camden Yards - if it's in Tommy's future.