DJ Wilkinson makes his professional debut in 2023 as he joins the Gary SouthShore RailCats.

Most recently, Wilkinson impressed in the MLB Draft League in 2022.  As a member of the Trenton Thunder, he took the mound in 19 games, all from the bullpen, going 1-1 with a 2.70 earned run average, 22 strikeouts, a 1.35 WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched, a 9.9 strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio, and one save in 20 innings.

A native of Monticello, Florida, Wilkinson began his college career at Pensacola State College.  He dominated over his two seasons as a Pirate, accumulating an 11-4 record, including an 8-2 freshman campaign that saw him fan 73 batters in 67.1 innings en route to two Panhandle Conference Player of the Week awards and a spot on the All-Panhandle Conference Second Team in 2018.

Following that two-year stretch, Wilkinson transferred to Troy University, primarily throwing out of the bullpen.  He pitched just 9.1 innings over seven appearances with one start in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic before appearing in 12 games (three starts) in 2021, striking out 30 hitters.  He joined Florida A&M University as a graduate transfer in 2022 where he transitioned back to the rotation, starting 15 games in his final college season.  He went 5-6, racking up 83 strikeouts and a 10.0 strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio during his 74.1 innings of work.