Wilson Waits on Yankees

Catcher Tom Wilson always finds his way home, which seems to be behind the plate for a New York Yankee farm team.

He started with the Yankees after being drafted in the 23rd round out of Fullerton College in 1991. He was an outfielder-turned-catcher for Class-A Oneonta, where he was a teammate of the guy drafted in the 24th round, infielder Jorge Posada.

Posada is now the Yankees’ catcher. Wilson is in his third stint in the Yankee organization as the starting catcher for triple-A Columbus.

“I had a lot of opportunities to go with other teams,” said Wilson, who was in the Tampa Bay organization last season. “This was best for me. The people in New York know me. I had been to spring training with Joe Torre and his staff before. There was familiarity.

“I thought I had an opportunity to compete for the backup job. It didn’t work out that way, so I’m back in Columbus.”

He doesn’t appear to be sulking.

Wilson, who played at Troy High, is hitting .264 with 11 home runs and 31 runs batted in through Saturday. He is a heartbeat away from a major league debut, and knows it.

“All it takes is somebody getting hurt,” said Wilson, 29.

But . . .

“I’ve been in this situation before,” he said, “and nobody gets hurt.”

That may sound a little callous, but after 942 games and 3,075 at-bats--all in the minor leagues--Wilson sees no reason to tap dance around the facts.

He competed with veteran Tom Pagnozzi and former Angel Chris Turner, all nonroster invitees, during spring training. Turner won the job of backing up Posada, who has become one of the American League’s best catchers.

“All I can do is hang in there,” Wilson said. “As long as I’m playing every day, it doesn’t matter. If someone does go down and I get called up, then it will look like I made a great choice signing with the Yankees.”

He had no way of knowing in 1990 that the guy drafted after him would turn out to be the guy now in front of him.

Posada was a shortstop at Calhoon Community College in Decatur, Ala., and played second base for Oneonta while Wilson labored to make it as a catcher in 1991.

In 1992, Posada was converted to catcher and moved onto the fast track. He is in his fourth season with the Yankees, and has two World Series rings.

And Wilson?

He was traded to Cleveland in 1996 and spent the season at triple-A Buffalo. He returned to the Yankees in 1997 and spent the season at double-A Norwich, where he hit a career-high 21 home runs.

Wilson was signed to a minor league contract by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1998 and by Tampa Bay last season. He hit .279 with 16 home runs and drove in 44 runs in 67 games for triple-A Durham.

“You put up good numbers and someone is going to call,” Wilson said. “It’s just like being a free agent in the major leagues, only the money isn’t as big.”

The money made it even easier coming back to the Yankees.

“They usually pay [minor league players] better than other clubs,” Wilson said. “They are one of the best [organizations] in baseball. They take care of their players. That’s why they always have a good club in Columbus.”

Not that Wilson wants to make a career there.

GIVING BACK

Matt Luke has started the season on the disabled list again after having shoulder surgery. Yet Luke, who signed with the Milwaukee Brewers last winter, hasn’t remained idle.

Besides rehabilitation, he is visiting children’s hospitals in Arizona and Southern California as part of a promotional deal with an Internet company.

For every on-line order, candybarrel.com will donate 3%, half in candy and half in cash, to the hospitals.

Luke, who played at El Dorado High, was born with a birthmark that covered 30% of his face, a condition known as congenital hairy nevus.

“I spent a lot of time in children’s hospitals on the other end,” said Luke, a 29-year-old outfielder who has played with the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, the Dodgers and the Angels.

“I had five surgeries on my face between the ages of 3 and 10. I know how depressing a children’s hospital can be. I know what it meant when someone came to see me and made me laugh. I want to return the favor.”

The plan was for Luke to visit hospitals when he was on the road with the Brewers. However, one throw in spring training changed all that. He tore the labrum in his left (throwing) shoulder and is out for at least another month.

WHO’S HOT

Former Angel prospect Nelson Castro hit a grand slam and drove in five runs to lead Bakersfield (San Francisco Giants) to a 15-7 victory over Modesto in Class-A California League play Wednesday. Castro, 23, is hitting .283 with five home runs and 40 runs batted in through Saturday. He also has 26 stolen bases.