VILLANOVA, Pa. – Relief pitcher
Danny Wilkinson extends the line of Villanova Wildcats who have made their way to the professional ranks, signing a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies as a non-drafted free agent.
The left-handed hurler wrapped up his third season on the Main Line this past year. He logged the second-most appearances among Villanova pitchers in the 2022 season, heading to the mound 21 times with a pair of starts. Through 43 1/3 innings of action, he collected a team-high four saves and the second-most strikeouts at 67. He went 3-5 on the year, holding a 6.23 ERA with opposing batters hitting at a .231 clip against him.
In 2022, the Scotch Plains, N.J. native logged eight outings where he pitched at least two innings, including three of four innings or more. He recorded 12 scoreless outings and struck out at least five batters in four trips to the hill. He strung together a stretch of three saves in four games, tossing a combined six scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts in that span. He fanned a season-high 12 batters through 4 1/3 innings of relief, one-run action at Georgetown on April 2, marking the best mark for the 'Cats on the year and crushing his previous career-best of eight strikeouts.
In just three years' time with the Wildcats, Wilkinson jumped up to fourth on the program's career saves list with 15. He has built up a career 5.00 ERA, striking out 121 of the 383 batters he has faced in 81 innings.
Wilkinson's signing comes less than a week after his teammates
Cole Patten and
Chris Rotondo had their names called on the third and final day of the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft. Patten was
drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 17th round while Rotondo was
selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 19th round.
