Minor League Roundup: Conn.’s Kyle Wilcox gets going right in 2019

Kyle Wilcox, shown pitching in 2018 for the Clinton Lumber Kings. (Clinton Lumber Kings/MiLB)

The first few weeks of the season don’t always go a long way in telling the big picture of a player’s season, but it can certainly help force an organization’s hand sooner rather than later.

In his first four professional seasons, Sandy Hook, Conn., native Kyle Wilcox has struggled out of the gate, specifically over his first five games where he posted a combined 8.08 ERA.

The former Bryant right-hander started last season with High-A Modesto (Calif.). Things were so rough after his first five outings (13.50 ERA, 2.57 WHIP) that he spent the rest of the season at Low-A Clinton (Iowa).

Destined not to repeat that feat, Wilcox, a 6th-round selection by Seattle in 2015, is again back at Modesto to start the season but has completely flipped the script, opening his year with seven scoreless innings and 11 strikeouts in his first five appearances.