Wilkinson named Carolina League Pitcher of the Month

Okotoks Dawgs alum Matt Wilkinson (Ladner, B.C.) has been named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Month. Photo: Carolina League

May 3, 2024

Official Lynchburg Hillcats News Release

The Lynchburg Hillcats left-handed pitcher, Matt Wilkinson, was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Month for April, Major League Baseball announced on Friday.

The Okotoks Dawgs alum and 10th round draft pick of the Cleveland Guardians in 2023 has opened the season on a tear. In the month of April, Wilkinson (Ladner, B.C.) went 2-0 with a 0.44 ERA in four starts. In his strongest outing, he went six innings of no-hit, scoreless baseball, while striking out 15 Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

He led the minors in two categories: strikeouts (41) and average against (.091). He also leads the Carolina League in innings pitched, ERA, and WHIP.

Earlier this season, he was named Pitcher of the Week in the Carolina League on April 29 after his performance against the Pelicans.

Wilkinson, drafted out of Central Arizona Junior College, is originally from Ladner, B.C. He honed his skills with the Okotoks Dawgs of the Western Canadian Baseball League. Going by the nickname "Tugboat," Wilkinson has won over the hearts of fans in Lynchburg and across the country.