Both the position players and pitchers for the Baltimore Orioles wore black T-shirts that read “Let Stevie Pitch” prior to an early August game against the New York Yankees.
The display of solidarity underscores Stevie Wilkerson’s popularity with his teammates.
And why not?
Wilkerson has become a baseball immortal … so to speak.
The Orioles outfielder sent both his cap and the game ball to the National Baseball Hall of Fame when he became the first position player in Major League Baseball history to earn a save when he threw a perfect 16th inning in a 10-8 victory against the Los Angeles Angels July 27.
Wilkerson managed to stymie the Angels despite a pitch velocity that never exceeded 56 mph. He visited Cooperstown, N.Y., when he was a kid, and now he’s looking forward to going back to see his display among other former Orioles who have a presence in the venerable museum.
“They asked me what I was willing to give, and I told them they could have anything they want,” Wilkerson said. “It’s pretty cool to have something up there, and I look forward to visiting as soon as I can to take a peek.”
Wilkerson has made four appearances as a pitcher this season (as of Aug. 12), which shows his willingness to do anything to help the team. He has pitched 5.1 innings with one strikeout, no walks, two home runs and a 6.75 ERA.
Wilkerson embodies the spirit of the 2019 Orioles — young players who compete hard every day and want to show they can be everyday major-league players. Wilkerson has also given the club a spark with his glove and bat (24 extra-base hits as of Aug. 13).
Hyde has been impressed by what he brings to the team.
“He’s awesome and confident,” Hyde said. “Takes a really confident person to flip up 55 mph cheeseburgers up there and not have any fear with the lead in the 16th inning and enjoy it. He’s got the perfect mentality to do something like that.”
Wilkerson’s success this season is the culmination of hard work and resilience. He was designated for assignment in March, but cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk, where he batted .316 (18-for-57) with two home runs, a triple and 10 RBIs in 15 games.
The quick start helped him earn a promotion to the major league roster April 22, and his playing time increased incrementally because of his production.
His versatility has also made him a valuable part of the club. Entering play Aug. 13, Wilkerson, an infielder by trade, had played six games at second base, 20 games in left field, 56 games in center field and seven games in right field. And, of course, four appearances as a pitcher.
Outfielder Trey Mancini likes the energy Wilkerson brings to the clubhouse.
“He’s hilarious,” Mancini said. “He is one of my really good friends and one of my favorite guys that I played with. He is a great presence to have on the team and he keeps things loose. He’ll do whatever it takes. He’s such an athletic guy and can play any position pretty much.
“As everyone has seen this year, he can pitch a little bit. He throws a little under hitting speed. All jokes aside, he throws it over the plate. It’s not easy to hit. As a position player, I never typically enjoyed facing position players because you can’t really win. You’re supposed to get a hit.”
Hyde agrees and is thrilled with the dynamic Wilkerson brings to the clubhouse.
“I just like the fact that Stevie’s bringing us a ton of energy, no doubt, and he’s bringing some life at the plate,” Hyde said when Wilkerson became a regular part of the lineup early in the season. “He’s really an aggressive swinger. He gives us a huge lift and the energy he plays with and how athletic he is, strong kid that can run, switch-hits.”
Wilkerson keeps a positive attitude and doesn’t try to do too much. He stays focused on the fundamentals and playing technically sound baseball, particularly in center field, which is a new position for him this year.
“Your job out there is to catch the ball, hit the cutoff man and know the situation,” Wilkerson said when he started playing center early in the year. “If you can keep it simple and not overcomplicate things and make it more difficult on yourself.”
His teammates could not be happier for him. Mancini has been impressed by the way Wilkerson has been able to adjust to various scenarios with the club.
“He came up a middle infielder, played third, played some first,” Mancini said. “I bet if we needed an emergency catcher, I bet he could go back and do that, too. He’s done a great job in center field. For someone like myself who came up as an infielder and got thrown into the outfield, he’s done a fantastic job. He covers a lot of ground.
“To be DFA’d in spring training like he was and come back and be a staple in our lineup, it’s a great turnaround and a testament to him that he never lost sight of who he was and what he can do. He battled his way back up here.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Baltimore Orioles
Issue 256: August 2019