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Wilson Becomes 12th Former Owl to Reach Bigs
4/7/2021 2:53:00 PM | Baseball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Former Florida Atlantic University centerfielder Cody Wilson made his Major League debut on Wednesday, coming off the bench to appear in the Washington Nationals' second game of the season.
The beginning of the Nationals' 2021 season was delayed due to COVID within their organization, and Wilson was elevated from the team's alternate training site to the Opening Day roster on Tuesday despite having previously never played above Class A (in 2019, with no minor league season last year). He did spend this year's Spring Training camp with the big league club as a non-roster invitee. Wilson played his junior year with the Owls in 2018, batting .285 with 14 home runs, 41 RBI and 19 stolen bases, and was the Nationals' 13th round pick that June in the MLB Draft.
After not playing in Tuesday's opener against the Atlanta Braves, Wilson was called upon Wednesday to make a pinch-hit appearance in the bottom of the third inning at Nationals Park. He batted for relief pitcher Kyle McGowin, in, at that point, a 6-5 game in favor of the Braves. On a 3-and-2 pitch from reliever Josh Tomlin, the former Owl flew out to center for the final out of the inning.
Wilson becomes the second FAU baseball player to appear in an MLB game in 2021, following Austin Gomber, who made his Colorado Rockies debut as their No. 4 starter on Sunday. The last Owl to make their MLB debut was David McKay in 2019, and Wilson is the first position player to do so since Tommy Murphy 15 years ago. Here is the full list of all 12 former Owls to play in the Majors, with their debut date:
The beginning of the Nationals' 2021 season was delayed due to COVID within their organization, and Wilson was elevated from the team's alternate training site to the Opening Day roster on Tuesday despite having previously never played above Class A (in 2019, with no minor league season last year). He did spend this year's Spring Training camp with the big league club as a non-roster invitee. Wilson played his junior year with the Owls in 2018, batting .285 with 14 home runs, 41 RBI and 19 stolen bases, and was the Nationals' 13th round pick that June in the MLB Draft.
Ladies and gentlemen...
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) April 6, 2021
Your 2021 Washington Nationals #OpeningDay roster.#NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/YdpUADw0zv
After not playing in Tuesday's opener against the Atlanta Braves, Wilson was called upon Wednesday to make a pinch-hit appearance in the bottom of the third inning at Nationals Park. He batted for relief pitcher Kyle McGowin, in, at that point, a 6-5 game in favor of the Braves. On a 3-and-2 pitch from reliever Josh Tomlin, the former Owl flew out to center for the final out of the inning.
And there it is!! Owl #12 to reach the Big Leagues is Cody Wilson! pic.twitter.com/FC1ca2hNV6
— FAU Baseball (@FAUBaseball) April 7, 2021
Wilson becomes the second FAU baseball player to appear in an MLB game in 2021, following Austin Gomber, who made his Colorado Rockies debut as their No. 4 starter on Sunday. The last Owl to make their MLB debut was David McKay in 2019, and Wilson is the first position player to do so since Tommy Murphy 15 years ago. Here is the full list of all 12 former Owls to play in the Majors, with their debut date:
| Name | Team | Debut |
| Tim Harikkala, RHP | Seattle Mariners | 5/27/95 vs. Baltimore |
| Carmen Cali, LHP | St. Louis Cardinals | 9/8/04 vs. San Diego |
| Jeff Fiorentino, OF | Baltimore Orioles | 5/12/05 vs. Chicago White Sox |
| Tommy Murphy, OF | Los Angeles Angels | 5/4/06 vs. Detroit |
| Michael Crotta, RHP | Pittsburgh Pirates | 4/3/11 vs. Chicago Cubs |
| Jeff Beliveau, LHP | Chicago Cubs | 7/22/12 vs. St. Louis |
| Mickey Storey, RHP | Houston Astros | 8/3/12 vs. Atlanta |
| R.J. Alvarez, RHP | San Diego Padres | 9/3/14 vs. Arizona |
| Ryan Garton, RHP | Tampa Bay Rays | 5/26/16 vs. Miami |
| Austin Gomber, LHP | St. Louis Cardinals | 6/2/18 vs. Pittsburgh |
| David McKay, RHP | Seattle Mariners | 5/20/19 vs. Texas |
| Cody Wilson, OF | Washington Nationals | 4/7/21 vs. Atlanta |
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