PITTSBURGH — As the Milwaukee Brewers rallied for runs in the 10th and 11th innings Friday night for an eventual victory over the visiting New York Yankees, Bryse Wilson walked back and forth between the dugout and home clubhouse at American Family Field, keeping tabs on the NFL draft.

Wilson's younger brother Payton, a talented and productive but oft-injured linebacker from NC State, had fallen to the end of the third round, his future employer very much a mystery.

"I was anxious," Bryse Wilson told the Post-Gazette. "I probably walked a mile and a half going back and forth between the two."

Turns out it was worth the wait, as the Steelers selected Payton Wilson with the 98th overall pick, creating a best-case scenario for the Wilson family and a setting where the siblings who played side-by-side in high school can continue to honor the blue-collar parenting job done by Chad and Tracy Wilson in Hillsborough, N.C.

Bryse Wilson pitched for the Pirates from 2021-22. He was acquired in the Richard Rodriguez trade, made 28 starts, had a 5.37 ERA and was designated for assignment in December 2022 before being traded to the Brewers for cash considerations.

Payton Wilson could be a second-day steal due to his injury history.

"Hopefully he performs a little bit better than I did when I was there," Bryse Wilson quipped.

When he pitched for the Pirates, Bryse Wilson lived in the Strip District, where he routinely hosted Payton for visits. Kelly O's Diner was one of their favorite spots, the Wilson brothers visiting the restaurant "three or four times a week" when Payton was around.

"It's one of my favorite cities of all time," Payton Wilson said late Friday night. "I'm super familiar with the city and with how much Pittsburgh loves its professional sports teams. I'm super excited to get there."

The whole Steelers dynamic has suddenly become a huge thing in the Wilson family, as Bryse Wilson's wife, Somer, is from Ford City. Bryse and Somer visit a couple times every offseason to see family, bringing along their young son Levi.

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