Giants call up pitcher from Patrick Bailey trade with nickname 'Tugboat'

The San Francisco Giants have promoted a left-handed pitcher acquired in the trade for catcher Patrick Bailey to the Majors. 

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Giants have called up lefty Matt "Tugboat" Wilkinson. 

"The San Francisco Giants are calling up left-hander Matt "Tugboat" Wilkinson, sources tell ESPN," Passan wrote on X. "Wilkinson, acquired in the Patrick Bailey trade, was a 10th-round pick out of junior college and has allowed just 59 hits in 90 innings this season while striking out 96." 

Wilkinson received the nickname "Tugboat" when he was playing in the Little League World Series. One of his friends' dads compared his running speed to the slow-moving ship. 

Wilkinson's nickname has to be one of the more unique in recent baseball history. 

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In 10 starts at Triple-A Sacramento, Wilkinson has posted a 5.15 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 43.2 innings. 

In his first six starts of the season at Double-A Akron, he posted a 1.59 ERA with 36 punchouts and just 17 hits allowed in 28.1 innings. 

The 23-year-old threw 2.2 scoreless innings in two appearances for Team Canada at the World Baseball Classic. 

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