SF Giants to call up lefty “Tugboat” Wilkinson, prospect from Bailey trade

The Giants‘ youth movement is continuing as they are expected to call up left-hander Matt Wilkinson ahead of their East Coast trip this week.

A league source confirmed the move to this news organization Monday morning. ESPN’s Jeff Passan was first to report the news.

Wilkinson, 23, could make his debut against his former organization after joining the Giants from the Cleveland Guardians in the May trade that sent catcher Patrick Bailey out.

The Giants face Cleveland for a three-game set beginning Tuesday, then move on to Boston for the weekend.

The 6-foot-1, 250-pound Wilkinson, who is known as “Tugboat”, has a 3.40 earned-run average overall this season between Double-A, Triple-A and a rehab start at the Arizona Complex League. His 5.15 earned-run average at Triple-A Sacramento may not be convincing, but he did have his best start at that level earlier this month when he pitched seven scoreless innings against Tacoma.

It is unclear how the Giants will use Wilkinson, who has never pitched out of the bullpen in the minor leagues. Adrian Houser, who spent more than a month in the bullpen, returned to the rotation last week and pitched six scoreless innings.

Wilkinson — who was born in Vancouver, British Columbia and went to Foothills Composite High School in Okotoks, Alberta — did operate as a reliever for Canada in the World Baseball Classic this spring, making two appearances out of the bullpen as the youngest pitcher on the nation’s staff.

The move comes after the Giants wrapped up their season-long nine-game homestand with a sloppy loss to the Colorado Rockies and held team meetings after the game. A season that opened with hopes of contending under first-year manager Tony Vitello has spiraled, and San Francisco is now just one game ahead of Colorado for last place in the National League.

As the season has gone sideways, 11 Giants have made their MLB debuts, most recently outfielder Turner Hill, who debuted Saturday. Wilkinson is not among the Giants’ top 10 prospects as ranked by Baseball America, FanGraphs or MLB.com but the team will get a look at him at the major-league level.

The Giants will have to make room for Wilkinson on their active and 40-man rosters. Casey Schmitt (knee) and Harrison Bader (foot) are both candidates to hit the 60-day injured list to free up a 40-man spot.

Staff reporter Justice delos Santos contributed to this story.