IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Wilson Excelling In Pittsburgh Pirates Bullpen

Published on March 20, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


Former Indianapolis Indians starter Justin Wilson is picking up right where he left off last season. Just a few short months removed from his dominant 2012 campaign with the Tribe, the southpaw is already featured as a legitimate contender to claim a spot on the Pittsburgh Pirates' Opening Day roster.

Wilson, who entered Major League camp as the No. 8 prospect in the Bucs system according to Baseball America, has quickly slotted into a relief role for the Pirates, and is the club's only pitcher to toss at least 10.0 innings while posting an ERA under 1.00 (0.90). The left-hander has not allowed an earned run since his first outing on Feb. 24, and also ranks second on the staff with 13 strikeouts, while holding opposing hitters to a menial .222 batting average through six relief appearances.

Though not typically used out of the bullpen, Wilson excelled in his limited relief outings with both Indianapolis and Pittsburgh last season. He began the campaign as a preeminent starter in the Tribe's rotation, and following his transition to the pen on Aug. 2, allowed just one earned run through 4.1 innings (2.08 ERA). His success as both a starter and reliever earned Wilson a promotion to the Pirates late in the season, where the southpaw posted a 1.93 ERA in eight relief appearances.

Prior to moving out of the Indians' rotation, the left-hander made International League headlines by becoming the first IL pitcher since 1946 to be involved in two no-hitters during the same season, when he combined for a no-hitter on April 29 at Durham, and followed with an 8.0-inning, rain-shortened no-hitter on Aug. 9 against Charlotte. Wilson also picked up additional hardware during the 2012 campaign as he was twice named the IL's Pitcher of the Week.

Originally selected in the fifth round of the 2008 MLB Draft by Pittsburgh, Wilson has climbed his way through the Bucs system as one of the club's best strikeout pitchers. After collecting 94 punchouts during the 2009 campaign for High-A Lynchburg, he racked up the second-highest strikeout total in Double-A Altoona Curve history, fanning 109 batters in 142.2 innings of work during the 2010 season. The left-hander only continued to improve from there, however, and following a 94-strikeout year with Indianapolis in 2011, he whiffed a career-high 138 batters for the Tribe in 2012, the most strikeouts among all Pirates farmhands.

Wilson and the Pittsburgh Pirates continue their spring training schedule today with a 1:05 p.m. tilt against the Atlanta Braves. The game will be webcast on www.Pirates.com and Tribe fans can tune in to see former Indians right-hander Kyle McPherson make the start for the Bucs.

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