CLEVELAND, Ohio — Don’t look now, but the next big Guardians pitching prospect could be chugging up the James River with his sights set on Cleveland in the not too distant future.
Lynchburg Hillcats 21-year-old left-hander Matt Wilkinson, who goes by the nautical nickname “Tugboat,” reached rarefied air Thursday when he struck out 15 of the 19 batters he faced, walking one over six no-hit innings in a 3-0 win against Myrtle Beach.
The 6-foot-1, 260-pound Vancouver native gives off distinct C.C. Sabathia vibes on video with his hefty frame and lefty delivery, but earned his catchy sobriquet from a family friend who once observed him running the bases at a pace more akin to that of a towboat than a Ferrari.
With Low-A Lynchburg’s ballpark located a stone’s throw from the banks of the mighty James, Tugboat has anchored the Hillcats’ rotation since the start of the season, posting a minor league-best 41 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings while walking six and allowing six hits. Through four starts, Wilkinson leads the Carolina League with a 0.44 ERA.
A 10th-round draft pick last year out of Central Arizona Junior College, Wilkinson on Thursday became the fifth minor league pitcher to strike out at least 15 batters without allowing a hit since 2005, according to MLB Pipeline contributor Jesus Cano. Only five major league pitchers have ever posted that many strikeouts without allowing a hit, including Nolan Ryan, who accomplished the feat three times.
Wilkinson’s professional journey is just beginning, but the next step could be a promotion to High-A Lake County in the coming months. The idea of having “Tugboat” on board with the Captains is a marketing department’s dream scenario, and a nightmare for hitters in the Midwest League.
Put the world on notice, Tugboat is here to save the day 🚢 🚨
— Lynchburg Hillcats (@LynHillcats) April 26, 2024
Matt Wilkinson’s final line 6 IP, NO HITS, 15 Strikeouts 💪💪💪@CleGuardPro #minorleague #milb #minorleaguebaseball #lynchburghillcats #pitching #prospects #shove #heat pic.twitter.com/4EHTe5sXth
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