Waikiki BeachBoys outfielder Michael Wilson is making up for lost time in a big way.

Ranked as the No. 14 prospect in the Seattle Mariners system by Baseball America before the past season started, he was assigned to Double-A West Tennessee. But torn quadriceps limited him to 55 games. Yet in 208 at-bats, he still slugged seven doubles, two triples and 10 home runs, although batting just .188.

"(My organization) just wanted me to get some at-bats because in Double-A, I missed two weeks of the season," he said. "I was out until mid-July, so I didn't get the at-bats I needed.

"It was a nagging injury. I came back, hurt it again and was out four weeks. I'm just trying to get a 100 percent now."

The BeachBoys are getting the real Michael Wilson, that's for sure. He's helping keep the BeachBoys' East title hopes alive heading into the home stretch this week. He leads the league with 29 RBIs, is tied for the league lead with seven home runs and is sixth with a .324 batting average.

"I wanted to work on being selective with my pitches and stuff, just staying back on the ball, not trying to get too in front," he said.

"We're very happy with Mike," Mariners hitting coordinator Alonzo Powell said. "He's proven now when he's healthy, he can go out there and do a good job."

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound right-handed hitting corner outfielder has shown some pop in his career, having hit 67 minor league home runs since he signed as a second-round draft pick in 2001 for $900,000, turning down a shot to play linebacker for Oklahoma.

"Hopefully, I can play at Triple-A next year and then move up from there," the 24-year-old said.

If Wilson is assigned to Triple-A Tacoma, he will be reunited with Powell, who said he will be the hitting coach there next season.

HISTORY LESSONS

The players have been exposed to the usual tourist attractions during their stay. They saw the volcano and craters during their visits to the Big Island and Maui. Last week, they went on a private tour of the USS Arizona Memorial.

"That was a good experience," Wilson said. "I was wired the whole time there, just realizing all that stuff had happened there. It was amazing to see that."

"It was great," added North Shore outfielder Brad Corley (Pirates). "That's something every person (who visits) Hawai'i has to see. There's a lot of history of our country right there."

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.