Former Brewers pitcher signs free agent deal with Reds after fruitful stint overseas

Aaron Wilkerson is coming back stateside after signing a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds. MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported the news on Monday night, and it's assumed that Wilkerson will receive a non-roster invite to spring training.

Wilkerson began his professional career in the independent leagues before joining the Boston Red Sox in 2014. The right-hander was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016 and made his major league debut in 2017. Wilkerson was yo-yo'd back in forth between the major and minor leagues over the next three seasons, but hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2019.

Since that time, Wilkerson has spent time with both the Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers while also pitching in both Japan and Korea. Wilkerson's most recent stint overseas saw him go 12-8 with a 3.84 ERA in 32 games for the Lotte Giants.

Former Brewers pitcher Aaron Wilkerson signs free agent deal with Reds

Make no mistake, just because Wilkerson is receiving an invite to spring training, his presence in Goodyear should be seen as little more than depth at Triple-A. But that's not a bad thing. Former Reds pitcher Ben Lively took a similar path back to the majors and was a key member of the Cleveland Guardians rotation last season.

Wilkerson showed plenty of endurance while pitching in the KBO last season. The 35-year-old logged a total of 196 ⅔ innings pitched while striking out 167 batters. More impressive was Wilkerson's control, as evidenced by his 1.2 walks per nine innings pitched.

Look for Wilkerson to compete when the Reds take the field in Goodyear next month, but ultimately he'll end up in the Louisville Bats' starting rotation once the 2025 campaign begins.

Given the Reds depth, Wilkerson will likely have the company of pitchers like Graham Ashcraft, Rhett Lowder, and Chase Petty in the Derby City to start the season. While all three have what it takes to break camp with the big league club, Cincinnati's rotation is incredibly deep.

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