Wilkerson named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week

Photo is courtesy of Portland Sea Dogs

Portland, Maine - The Eastern League of Professional Baseball Clubs has selected Portland Sea Dogs' starting pitcher Aaron Wilkerson as the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 7th - April 17th, 2016.

Wilkerson went 1-0 with a 0.54 ERA ERA (1 ER/16.2 IP) in three starts this week, combining to allow just six hits while walking three and striking out 22.

Wilkerson started the Sea Dogs season opener on April 7th in Reading and worked 5.2 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits, one walk, and striking out a career-high 11. His 11 strikeouts were also the most ever by a Sea Dog pitcher on Opening Day and the most by a Sea Dogs' starter since Brian Johnson fanned 12 on July 25, 2014.

In his second start, Wilkerson allowed one earned run on just one hit in a no-decision at Trenton, walking one and striking out six. In his third start at Hadlock Field against Hartford, he worked six scoreless innings and allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out five.

Wilkerson currently leads the Eastern League in strikeouts (22) and WHIP (0.54), ranks second in opponents' average (.105), fourth in ERA (0.54), and third in innings pitched (16.2).

The Fort Worth, TX native was signed by the Red Sox as a non-drafted free agent out of the independent American Association on July 18, 2014. This is his third season in the Red Sox organization.

Since joining Portland late in the 2015 season, Wilkerson is 5-1 with a 2.20 ERA (13 ER/57.1 IP) in 10 starts, while allowing just 34 hits, 16 walks, and issuing 57 strikeouts. He's limited opponents to a .167 batting average against him and posted a 0.87 WHIP.

Wilkerson is the first winner of the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week Award in 2016. He also earned the honor for the week of August 17-23 last season and was the only Sea Dog in 2015 to earn a Pitcher of the Week award. This marks the third time in Wilkerson's career he's been named Pitcher of the Week; he also earned the award in the New York-Penn League for the week of 9/2/14.