Wilhelmsen, Lueke Reportedly on Mariners’ Opening Day Roster

I saw it first on the Everett AquaSox Facebook page, then saw it again at Larry LaRue’s blog for the Tacoma News Tribune, and saw it once more on Geoff Baker’s blog for the Seattle Times.

Are you sitting down for this one?  Ok.  Right-hander Tom Wilhelmsen (’10), the feel-good reclamation story and former LumberKings’ starter, has reportedly made the Seattle Mariners’ Opening Day roster.  Right-hander Josh Lueke (’07-’08) is coming with him, also to make a Major League debut.  And first-baseman Justin Smoak (’08) will be there, too.

We all know the Wilhelmsen backstory by now, but to enhance the Disney-movie-worthy script even further, he’ll be making the move to the Majors having last pitched professionally here in Clinton.  No high-A, no double-A, no triple-A.  That doesn’t happen too often, but in Tom’s case, his age and stuff have got him there on the Albert Pujols timetable.

The Mariners released this article and video on Wilhelmsen, penned by Greg Johns just yesterday.  Do note that Seattle at this stage has not released their Opening Day roster officially, but given the credibility of the two news blogs reporting it, I think it’s safe to report.

Sounds like a great time to revisit my 2010 posts on Tom.  Check them out:

• Tonight’s Interview: Tom Wilhelmsen (Vol. 1)
• Wilhelmsen’s Near Perfecto in Audio
• Tonight’s Interview: Tom Wilhelmsen (Vol. 2)

We should be hearing more on our roster here in Clinton shortly.  I can’t break any news on that, unfortunately.

-DL