CBN Minor League Player of the Month: Matt Wilkinson
Okotoks Dawgs alum Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, BC) has been named the Canadian Baseball Network Minor League Player of the Month for April. Photo: Lynchburg Hillcats
May 14, 2024
By Kevin Glew
Canadian Baseball Network
Okotoks Dawgs alum Matt Wilkinson is the Canadian Baseball Network Minor League Player of the Month for April after dominating in his four starts for the Cleveland Guardians’ class-A Lynchburg Hillcats.
A 10th round draft pick of the Guardians in 2023, the left-hander nicknamed “Tugboat” went 2-0 with a 0.44 ERA and allowed just six hits, while striking out 41, in 20 2/3 innings during the season’s first month.
On April, in his most dominant start, he tossed six no-hit innings and struck 15 batters to lead the Hillcats to a 3-0 victory over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. His performance earned him Carolina League Player of the Week honours.
Just how good was Wilkinson in April?
Well, the 6-foot-1, 270-pound lefty, who was mentored by pitching coach Jeff Duda (Surrey, BC), topped the entire affiliated minor league ranks in strikeouts (41) and batting average against (.091).
He also led Carolina League pitchers in innings, ERA, and WHIP (0.580).
Wilkinson has continued his dominance with the Hillcats in May, posting a 1-0 record with 1.84 ERA, while striking out 22 in 14 2/3 innings in three starts.
In total this season with the Hillcats, he is 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings across seven starts.
Selected out of Central Arizona Junior College by the Guardians, Wilkinson pitched for the Western Canadian Baseball League’s Okotoks Dawgs in four seasons (2019, 2021-23).