He's nicknamed 'Tugboat,' and he throws a fastball that disappears

SAN JUAN -- There've been whispers and tales of Matt Wilkinson's pitch his whole life.

How did it get to home plate so fast? Wasn't it just in his glove? Why is it already past me?

He's heard the same questions from batters in high school, the Minor Leagues, even Little League.

In fact, that's where you might recall hearing his name. During the 2015 Little League World Series, Wilkinson famously struck out 16 during an outing for Canada.

Eleven years later, he's basically the same pitcher.

"Haven't changed a thing," the Team Canada reliever told me this week at Pool A in San Juan.

The team from the Great White North has a secret weapon at the World Baseball Classic, and it's called "The Invisi-ball."

Wilkinson, who's likely been asked about the pitch ever since he started throwing it, describes "The Invisi-ball" in pretty technical terms.

"Basically, it's low release with really good extension," Wilkinson said. "I hear a lot of, 'I don't know how 90, 91 gets up on them so fast.' It's a good feeling to hear that."

His coach in the Western Canadian Baseball League described it as abnormal: “He’s got a certain run and life on his fastball that you don’t see in regular pitchers. There’s just another gear that comes out of his hand."

Here, just look at it in action:

Wilkinson cruised through the Western Canadian League and was drafted by the Guardians in the 2023 MLB Draft. He's put up a sparkling 2.98 ERA across three seasons of Minor League ball. And now, for the first time, at the young age of 23, he's representing his home country of Canada in the World Baseball Classic here in San Juan.

Wilkinson appeared once so far this Classic and, well, batters definitely seemed to have a tough time picking up his pitch. The 6-foot-1, 250-pound lefty struck out the only two hitters he faced during Canada's one-run loss to Panama. He didn't face a third batter because of a rain delay and then came out of the game.

Oh, and he might also have the best nickname in the tournament: Tugboat. That goes all the way back to that Little League World Series.

"My dad's best friend gave it to me and then it kind of blew up from there," Wilkinson laughed.

His dad's friend apparently saw him run around the bases at a pace he thought was similar to that of a boat designed to tow larger ships.

Team Canada? They're hoping this Tugboat can help tow them to the quarterfinal round in Houston for the first time in country history.