BRADENTON, Fla. - Craig Wilson doesn't wear as many hats now with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and it has nothing to do with his much-shorter hair style.

Wilson has nearly as many gloves in his crowded locker as he does bats - after all, he plays left and right field, first base and occasionally catches. Each glove needs attention, which is why Wilson was drying one Wednesday in a huge, commercial-sized dryer to make it fit just right.

But the man who could never find a full-time position despite being able to play many positions no longer is one of the majors' top pinch-hitters and role players. He played all but six of Pittsburgh's 161 games last season, hitting 29 homers and driving in 82 runs in 561 at-bats, nearly 200 more at-bats than he previously had in his four-year career.

After waiting 10 professional seasons to play regularly in the majors, the 28-year-old Wilson is finally getting the at-bats he wants. He just wants to do more with them, especially after having a team-record 169 strikeouts in 2004.

"It was an OK season and, like any other player, you're going to have your high points and low points," Wilson said Wednesday. "Overall, it wasn't too bad. But it doesn't matter if you're (Barry) Bonds or (Albert) Pujols or anyone else, there had better be improvement every year or you're going to go downhill."

Wilson doesn't want that to happen, not after waiting so long to play. That's why, after his statistics declined significantly during the second half of last season, Wilson altered his offseason program.

His hairstyle, too. Gone is the shoulder-length, surfer-style blond hair of last season - he auctioned the hair for charity - replaced by a much-shorter cut.

The Pirates lack proven power hitters - they don't have a player who has hit 30 in a season - so they badly need Wilson to build on his first season as a regular.

"He's got more to give us," manager Lloyd McClendon said.

Wilson was hitting .360 with 12 homers and 34 RBI on June 4 and seemed headed to the All-Star game, but hit only .235 after the All-Star break. Wilson's dropoff was predictable for someone who had as many at-bats by the break as he normally does in a season, but it is one he wants to avoid this season.

"Obviously that was more games than I have played for quite a while and it was a little exhausting physically," Wilson said. "So you go home in the offseason and make some adjustments, There are certain things we're going to emphasize a little more of, and certain things we can back off from to keep you a little fresher during the season."