58.22 Montreal Calls Up #2 Prospect Wilkinson

[Bob Breum]

After Montreal icon Lineu Aldo was injured during Saturday's marathon 19-inning win over the Boise Spuds, the Blazers made a roster move today. They placed Aldo on the 7-day injured list and purchased the contract of first baseman Dan Wilkinson from AAA New Jersey. The 38-year-old Aldo is expected to miss 1-2 weeks with a lat strain. On the season, Aldo is hitting .343/.370/.536 with 19 doubles, 7 home runs, and 23 stolen bases.


Dan 'Tangles' Wilkinson
Only 20 years old, the right-handed Wilkinson has relentlessly moved up through the Blazers farm system since being drafted out of high school as a 16-year-old. He was the club’s first round selection in the 2054 amateur draft, 22nd overall. He was assigned to rookie ball that first season. In 2055, he played in Short Season A. It was his 18-year-old season in 2056 when he broke out, hitting .322 in Single-A and .321 in AA. Last season, he hit .306/.374/.565 with 29 home runs and 34 doubles for AA Mississauga. This season, he has hit .310/.358/.527 with 13 home runs for AAA New Jersey. In the 2058 Prospect Handbook, Wilkinson was ranked as the team's #2 prospect.

Scouts describe him as a “field general,” and say that he is a natural born team captain. They also praise his work ethic.

Team sources say that they expect to see Wilkinson’s #6 penciled into the starting lineup as the team’s starting first baseman until Aldo returns.