Ladner’s own Tugboat got the attention of more than just the award selection committee for his outstanding season at Central Arizona.
Matt Wilkinson was one of nine Canadians selected in last Sunday’s Major League Baseball Draft, going in the 10th round (308th overall) to the Cleveland Guardians. Now the hard-throwing southpaw pitcher could be turning pro instead of finishing up his remaining two years of NCAA eligibility at Arizona State University where he had earned a scholarship.
Wilkinson had been pitching for the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League in Massachusetts but has since returned home to spend time with family before potentially signing with the Guardians and then being assigned within the organization. His brief time with the Anglers was near perfection, he allowed just one hit and one walk in nine innings of work while striking out 10 and allowing no earned runs.
Earlier he was named 2023 National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA) D1 Pitcher of the Year after his superb campaign at Central Arizona.
Wilkinson had a 1.07 ERA with 136 strikeouts while recording 10 wins in 84 innings pitched. His strikeout total ranked second in the nation while his ERA was third.
Other honours included being named First Team All-American, American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings Pitcher of the Year and Arizona Community College Athletic Association Pitcher of the Year.
The nickname Tugboat has stayed with Wilkinson since his days pitching in Ladner Minor Baseball when he was just seven.
He joins Victoria outfielder Sam Shaw (9th round, Toronto) as the lone B.C. players drafted.
