Stevie Wilkerson Hits First MLB Homer; O’s Win Series

Stevie Wilkerson hit his first MLB home run on Wednesday, leading the O’s to a 4-3 win and their first series victory since the first week of April.

When the Baltimore Orioles sent Cedric Mullins down on April 22nd, they brought up outfielder Stevie Wilkerson to replace him. The same day the news came out, Wilkerson was starting in an MLB game, playing left field and hitting in the six-hole. Boy…it couldn’t have gone worse; Wilkerson struck out three times in four at-bats, then followed his 2019 debut up with a pinch-hit strikeout on April 23rd.

Yesterday, though, the former Clemson star finally got down to business.

In his second at-bat, Wilkerson sent a pitch from two-time All-Star Ervin Santana over 420 feet into the centerfield stands to give Baltimore a 4-1 lead. The homer turned out to be the difference in the game; Baltimore won 4-3 after Chicago scored two late runs off the O’s bullpen.

The win on Wednesday gave the Birds their first series win since the beginning of April when they took two of three off the Blue Jays in Toronto.

Back to Wilkerson.

The lefty’s fourth-inning jack, his first-ever in the bigs, almost didn’t happen. Moments before, he was told to go to first after it appeared he was hit by a pitch. Eventually, the play was reviewed and he was called back, setting up an awesome moment at Camden Yard.

It took Wilkerson parts of two seasons, plenty of days in the minors, and 52 MLB at-bats to get his first jack, but he did it and that’s a major milestone. After the game, he spoke to MASN about his first MLB home run.

Baltimore (10-16) doesn’t play today as they travel up north for a six-game road trip. They’ll resume their season tomorrow against Minnesota.