‘Tugboat’ Wilkinson starting Wednesday vs. Guardians

Wilkinson started but was effectively used as an opener, limited to 25 pitches before Adrian Houser took over and threw the next five frames. “Tugboat” didn’t record any strikeouts while averaging 90.1 mph with his four-seamer. He was drafted by the Guardians in 2023 but traded to the Giants earlier this season as part of a package for catcher Patrick Bailey. He won’t have fantasy value unless he gets stretched out at the big-league level.

Wilkinson will make his major-league debut against his former organization in Cleveland on Wednesday evening. The 23-year-old southpaw, who earned the nickname “Tugboat” several years ago in the minors, came over from the Guardians in the Patrick Bailey trade back in May. He’s not a recommended streaming option outside of extremely deep fantasy leagues, but he’s an interesting arm with enough strikeout potential to envision a future where he’s an impactful rotation piece. He’s posted a pedestrian 5.15 ERA along with a 43/17 K/BB ratio across 43 2/3 innings for Triple-A Sacramento this season.

It’d be the MLB debut for the 23-year-old Wilkenson, who has a 5.15 ERA and a 43/17 K/BB in 43 2/3 innings over 10 starts since moving up to Triple-A Sacramento. It seems likely that he’ll pitch in middle relief initially, as the Giants pen is pretty worn out after Sunday’s loss to the Rockies.

Wilkinson, also known as Tugboat, came to the Giants early in May as part of the Patrick Bailey trade. The 23-year-old left-hander made three starts for the Giants in Double-A and has a 1.87 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, and 49/13 K/BB ratio across 43 1/3 total Double-A innings this season. If he adapts well to Triple-A, he could be an option for the Giants down the stretch.

The trade is now official. Wilkinson, affectionately nicknamed Tugboat, has posted astronomical strikeout rates in the lower minors the last couple years and has looked outstanding at Double-A Akron this season, registering a microscopic 1.59 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 36/9 K/BB ratio across 28 1/3 innings over six starts. The 23-year-old southpaw has a chance to reach the majors next season and projects as a bat-missing back-of-the-rotation X-factor for the Giants, who also pick up a first-round selection in the deal to use later this summer.

It’s the first significant trade to hit the baseball world this season as San Francisco begins pivoting towards a more long-term rebuilding project after an abysmal start to the year. Bailey is widely regarded as one of the top defensive catchers in baseball and seems like the perfect fit for Cleveland’s front office, which has employed light-hitting defensive wizard Austin Hedges for more than a half-decade. The first-round pick will be the 29th overall selection in the 2026 MLB Draft while Wilkinson is one of the more intriguing left-handed prospects in the game. He’s put up astronomical strikeout totals in the lower minors and has looked extremely impressive at the Double-A level this season. There aren’t a lot of fantasy takeaways from this deal, but Bailey should help improve Cleveland’s entire pitching staff.

The buzz has been steadily increasing this season as Tugboat continues his rise through the lower rungs of Cleveland’s system. The 21-year-old southpaw, who was a 10th-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, has compiled a remarkable 1.96 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 144/28 K/BB ratio across 92 innings (19 starts) this season between Low-A Lynchburg and High-A Lake County. The stuff probably isn’t overpowering at the highest level, but he commands his low-90’s fastball well and can throw his changeup and slider for strikes, which has enabled him to dominate this year. He’s definitely put himself on the map for dynasty managers looking towards the future.