Wilkerson feels whirlwind
Cobb County product makes debut, plays at SunTrust before returning to Triple-A
CUMBERLAND — It was and intense week for Steve Wilkerson.
The former Pope High School standout found out on Father’s Day that the Baltimore Orioles were calling him up from Triple-A Norfolk, giving the 26-yearold utility infielder the chance to make his major league debut.
“It was so perfect that it happened on Father’s Day,” Wilkerson said. “My dad answered phone thinking I was calling only to wish him a happy Father’s Day. Instead, it was telling him I’m going to the big leagues. He had my mom and brother on speaker phone. They were more excited than I was.”
Wilkerson played three years at Clemson before Baltimore selected him in the eighth-round of the draft in 2014.
Wilkerson made his debut Wednesday night against the Washington Nationals
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When he had his first at-bat at Nationals Park, he was able to look back and see a familiar face in Washington catcher Spencer Kieboom – a fellow east Cobb native who played with Wilkerson at Clemson and against KLP DW :DOWRQ +LJK 6FKRRO
“It was a special memory,” Wilkerson said. “I’ve been playing with and against that guy since I was a kid. It goes to show how much talent there is in Georgia, and especially Cobb County.”
Wilkerson’s parents and a few other relatives made the trip up to Washington, then made the much shorter drive as Friday night as Wilkerson PDGH KLV ¿UVW DSSHDUDQFH LQ KLV KRPH- town park, as the Orioles played the Atlanta Braves.
“The ballpark and the Battery are amazing,” Wilkerson said. “I love what they’ve done with everything. It’s great. I grew up driving to Turner Field to watch the Braves. It would’ve been cool to have the team here when I was coming up.”
Wilkerson had to wait until the ninth inning to get into the game, and he got the most out of it with a pinch-hit VLQJOH IRU KLV ¿UVW PDMRU OHDJXH KLW +H ODWHU VFRUHG DV SDUW RI %DOWLPRUH¶V VL[ UXQ LQQLQJ WKDW EULHÀ\ JDYH WKH Orioles the lead before the Braves’ big bottom-half rally.
Wilkerson remained in the game at third base and went on to get two more at-bats before Baltimore eventually won in 15 innings.
“My high school coach and so many people who are important to me were KHUH ,W ZDV VSHFLDO WR JHW WKDW ¿UVW KLW here,” Wilkerson said. “I’m glad I got it here. I’ll never forget it. They got the ball authenticated, and I’m keeping it forever.”
The Orioles stayed a nearby hotel, so he was able to take a leisurely stroll to SunTrust Park on Saturday morning, ready to play again.
It was not meant to be, as the Orioles optioned Wilkerson back to Norfolk, FDOOLQJ XS UHOLHYHU 'RQQLH +DUW WR KHOS Baltimore’s taxed bullpen.
Still, Wilkerson’s quick stint caught the eye of Orioles manager Buck Showalter.
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³+H JRW D JRRG WDVWH RI ZKDW LW WDNHV at this level. If he does well down there with the lessons he learned, we will likely bring him up again. We always can use versatile players like him.”