HIGH POINT -- Weston Wilson was just looking for an opportunity to play in the big leagues. He finally got his break.
The result was two of the most unforgettable moments a young major leaguer could have. And now he's looking to build on what has been a strong start following a long, hard journey to reach the highest level of professional baseball.
"It's crazy," Wilson said. "I don't know that I have more than 200 at-bats in the big leagues. And so for it to have happened that soon, some things that I haven't done ever in my career, it's really cool. It's hard to put words to. I don't focus on those things too much, but I definitely feel blessed."
Wilson is a High Point native who starred at Wesleyan Christian Academy -- where he was recently inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame, alongside fellow major leaguers Patrick Bailey and Wil Myers as well as longtime baseball coach Scott Davis, in a star-studded inaugural class.
"His dad and I would talk quite a bit," said Davis, one of the most successful coaches in the school's history. "He was struggling. Then it was, 'He's having a good year this year.' Next thing you know, he started dominating in the minor leagues. So, to do what he's done, to stick through it is literally a miracle.
"Think about it, most kids pack it in. He's got a strong faith. He's got a strong family. He never doubted himself. And so I'm watching a journey, just like we all are in High Point. To go through that, and with his dad and his mom being as close as we are, and to see the success it's really rewarding."
Following a strong career at Clemson, Wilson, who was a fixture in Davis' backyard batting cage growing up, was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016 and climbed through the Brewers' minor league system, reaching Triple-A Nashville in 2021 and again in 2022.
He went into free agency and signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023.
After starting the year in Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Wilson, who primarily plays third base but has added some versatility in the outfield, got called up late in the summer. He made his long-awaited major league debut with the Phillies on Aug. 9 against the Washington Nationals.
"Spending all those years in the minor leagues and going through failures, going through hard times, you see the light at the end of the tunnel and it doesn't happen," he said. "All of that made me more comfortable for when the time came. I wasn't nervous. I felt like it was the perfect time. And, yeah, it was really cool."
With his family in the stands, Wilson homered in his first at-bat -- crushing a 1-1 pitch in the second inning deep into the seats beyond the left-center field fence at Citizens Bank Park.
"It was pretty incredible," he said. "I blacked out rounding the bases. I don't really remember much of it. Honestly, it was a miracle. Obviously, it happens for guys. But I just felt super blessed running around the bases.
"Everything from those seven, eight years playing in the minor leagues, the emotions were swirling through my head. I just feel very appreciative that the Lord got me to that point.
"Because there were times where I didn't know if it was going to happen, if I was good enough. But you never know in this game."
Wilson, who was the sixth player in Phillies history and first since 1998 to homer in his first at-bat, began 2024 in Lehigh Valley but got called up midway through the year.
On Aug. 15 against Washington, he accomplished another rarity.
He both tripled and singled in the fourth and homered in the seventh. All he needed was a double in his final at-bat in the eighth for the 10th cycle -- and first by a rookie -- in Phillies history.
"Never one time in my career have ever thought, 'I'm going to hit for the cycle tonight,' " he said. "It's never crossed my mind. It's something that's so rare. I think once I hit the home run, I was like, 'OK, shoot, all I need is a double.'
"A lot of my teammates knew. And (Bryce) Harper met me at the top step before my last at-bat and said, 'Don't stop running. Doesn't matter where you hit it. Get thrown out by 40 feet -- it doesn't matter. Don't stop running.' "
Wilson laced a 2-2 pitch into right-center field that hit off the glove of the diving right-fielder. He cruised into second with a double.
"Standing on the on-deck circle, I felt like, 'OK, if this happens, it's definitely God's work,' " he said. "It just happened. It was one of those things like a miracle, that a higher power orchestrated. I definitely couldn't have done that on my abilities."
Wilson, who lives in Nashville with wife Madison and son Walker, and the Phillies finished the year in the postseason. After making an appearance as a pinch-hitter in Game 3, he started Game 4 in left field against the New York Mets in the National League Division Series.
"Obviously it was a high stakes game -- win or go home," he said. "Definitely a little bit of nerves. But at the same time it was one of those things where I got out on the field and I was totally fine. I just had to remember it is the same game.
"Obviously you feel a little bit more pressure not to mess up. It's hard. I mean, those things creep into your mind. So, you just say a quick prayer to yourself."
Wilson, who is 30, is in the middle of a six-year run in which the Phillies control his contract and renew it year by year. After three years he'll be eligible for arbitration. So, the goal now is to go into spring training prepared to compete for a spot on the major league club.
"I'm training right now in the offseason. I'm training every day to extend my career as long as I can," he said. "That's the goal. I want to provide for my family and do whatever that takes to make that happen in the career that I have left.
"There's just so many uncertain things in this game. And it's changing so much. A lot of it's out of your control. So, you just have to be prepared."