Dodgers' Wilson sharp in minor league debut
The Beard is back in action.
Reliever Brian Wilson, who signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last week, began working his way back to the major leagues by throwing a perfect inning Wednesday for Class A Rancho Cucamonga.
Wilson last pitched in the big leagues in April 2012 for the San Francisco Giants before undergoing Tommy John surgery. He didn't land a contract in the offseason, but he finally convinced the Dodgers his recovery was on track.
According to ESPNLosAngeles.com, Wilson's fastball velocity peaked at 91 mph during the Wednesday outing against the Lake Elsinore Storm, a San Diego Padres affiliate. Getting the start for the Quakes, Wilson sandwiched two groundouts around a strikeout, completing his work in eight pitches.
"Basically, I wanted to see what it feels like to get the adrenaline ramped back up again and deal with that and try to be calm about it," Wilson said, according to ESPNLosAngeles.com. "It was nice to feel that and get it over with."
Wilson, 31, is officially on the Dodgers' disabled list, so Wednesday's outing was the start of a rehab assignment. At the time he signed, Dodgers officials said Wilson could be in the major league bullpen this month if all goes well.
Wilson saved at least 36 games for San Francisco every season from 2008-11, appearing in the All-Star Game three times.
The right-hander posted 48 saves and recorded a 1.81 ERA for the Giants in 2010, then earned six more saves in the postseason as the Giants went on to defeat the Texas Rangers in the World Series.
