Justin Wilson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on August 18, 1987, in Anaheim, California, and attended California State University, Fresno, where he played college baseball for the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Wilson was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth round of the 2008 MLB draft and made his major league debut with the team in 2012. He spent three seasons with the Pirates, primarily as a relief pitcher, before being traded to the New York Yankees in 2014.
With the Yankees, Wilson continued to pitch out of the bullpen and was a key contributor to the team's success in 2015, when they made the playoffs as a wild card team. He was traded again in 2016, this time to the Detroit Tigers, where he spent two seasons before being traded once more to the Chicago Cubs in 2018.
During his career, Wilson was known for his ability to strike out batters and his effectiveness against left-handed hitters. He finished his career with a 3.44 ERA and 471 strikeouts in 444 innings pitched.
In addition to his success on the field, Wilson was also known for his charitable work off the field. He and his wife, Katie, founded the JW52 Foundation, which supports organizations that help children and families in need.
After the 2021 season, Wilson announced his retirement from baseball at the age of 34. He cited a desire to spend more time with his family as the reason for his decision.
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