The Beard is Back…Almost

Brian Wilson hadn't thrown a pitch in a real game since walking off the mound April 12, 2012.  Now, this won't be the first time you've heard and it won't be the last, but…the beard is back.

After inking a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers last month, Wilson has made two stops already on his road back to the Majors.  First up, the team's A-ball affiliate, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and, currently, the Albuquerque Isotopes, Los Angeles' top minor league team.

And through four games, the 31-year-old reliever has been perfect both on and off the field.

"Brian’s been great with his teammates, the media, and the fans," Albuquerque General Manager John Traub told The Hall.  "There was definitely an elevated level of excitement when he came in to pitch on Friday night.  He is a very hard worker and hopefully he’ll be able to help the Dodgers win their first World Series since 1988."

But it's not just the team that's ecstatic Wilson is spending time in the minors…some fans are pretty pumped up too.

"It's good for the Dodgers and the Isotopes that (Wilson) is here.  I'm looking forward to seeing him play more," said Andy Senko, who sells "Los Topes" t-shirts outside Isotopes Park.  "On top of all that he's seems like a genuine guy."

There's no timetable set yet for when Wilson can be expected to be a fixture in the Dodgers' bullpen, but you've gotta believe it will be in time for the team to face off against his former team, the San Francisco Giants.  The Dodgers play host to the World Champs September 12-14 in Los Angels and ten days later, in San Fran.