Matt Wilkinson continues to show that he’s more than just a great nickname.
The man known as “Tugboat” turned in the best outing of his Minor League career on Wednesday for Double-A Richmond, allowing only one hit over seven scoreless innings with three strikeouts and one walk as the Flying Squirrels topped the Akron Rubber Ducks, 3-0, at 7 17 Credit Union Park.
It was Wilkinson's first time facing his former team since he was traded from the Guardians to the Giants in the deal that sent catcher Patrick Bailey to Cleveland on May 9.
COMPLETE GIANTS PROSPECT COVERAGE
The 6-foot-1, 250-pound lefty has made three starts for Richmond since the trade, and two of them have been scoreless. On the year, Wilkinson owns a 1.87 ERA with 49 strikeouts and 13 walks over 43 1/3 innings between Akron and Richmond. Opponents are hitting .154 against him.
Eleven years ago, you might remember, Wilkinson was doing this at the Little League World Series, where he famously struck out 16 in an outing for Canada.
Wilkinson said while pitching for Team Canada at the World Baseball Classic this past March that he “hasn’t changed a thing” about his approach on the mound since his Little League days.
He’s even kept the nickname he picked up back then. Is it the best nickname in Minor League Baseball? You can help decide that by voting in the Minor League Nickname Knockout bracket. Results will be announced on June 1.