William Carl Wilkinson (born August 10, 1964) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. A left-handed pitcher, Wilkinson played for Major League Baseball's (MLB) Seattle Mariners in 1985, and from 1987 to 1988. During his career, he had a 5–8 record, 4.56 earned run average (ERA) and 103 strikeouts in 113⅓ innings pitched. ^[1]

Career

In the 1983 MLB draft, Wilkinson was selected in the fourth round by the Mariners, with the 87th overall pick. ^[2] On June 13, 1985, he made his MLB debut with the Mariners, and took the loss against the Kansas City Royals after allowing four earned runs in five and two-thirds innings. ^[3] Five days later, Wilkinson lost in his only other appearance during the 1985 season, which was also a start; he allowed five earned runs and recorded only one out. ^[4] In his two MLB starts, Wilkinson was 0–2 with a 13.50 earned run average. ^[1] He was the fifth-youngest player in the American League in 1985. ^[5] Following his start against the Rangers, the Mariners demoted him to the minor leagues. ^[6]

Wilkinson did not pitch in MLB in 1986; he instead played for the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate, the Calgary Cannons of the Pacific Coast League. ^{[1] [7]} In 1985 and 1986, Wilkinson had a combined record of 13–9 while pitching for the Cannons. ^[8] He appeared in 56 games as a reliever for Seattle in 1987, the most of any Mariners pitcher that year. ^[9] He compiled a 3–4 record, with a 3.66 earned run average (ERA) and 10 saves. ^[1] The following season, Wilkinson pitched in 30 games, and posted a 2–2 record with two saves and a career-low 3.48 ERA. ^[1] However, he suffered an injury to his left shoulder. Before the 1989 season began, Wilkinson was sent back down to the minor leagues, where he was used as a starter. ^[8] In April, the Mariners traded Wilkinson to the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of a five-player deal. ^[10] Wilkinson never pitched for the Pirates, and did not return to MLB after 1988. ^[1] His final minor league season was 1992, when he pitched for two teams in the Oakland Athletics organization, posting an 0–3 record and 8.21 ERA in 23 games. ^[11]

Family

Born in Greybull, Wyoming, ^[1] Wilkinson is the great-grandson of Jim Bluejacket, a right-handed pitcher who spent three seasons in the Federal League and National League from 1914 to 1916. ^[12] Bluejacket and Wilkinson were the first great-grandfather and great-grandson duo that have both played in MLB. ^[13] Wilkinson's brother, Brian, was selected in the 1987 Major League Baseball draft by the Mariners. ^[14]

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or  Baseball Reference (Minors)