Former WPIAL, Wild Things player James Meeker gets MLB call-up from Brewers

By: Chris Harlan
Friday, June 7, 2024 | 4:30 PM

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Former WPIAL baseball player James Meeker, a North Allegheny graduate who got his professional start with the Washington Wild Things, was called up to the major leagues Friday for the first time.

The Milwaukee Brewers promoted the right-handed pitcher from Triple-A Nashville, where he was 1-0 this season with a 3.48 ERA in 20 2/3 innings over 14 appearances. This was his fourth season in the Milwaukee organization since the Brewers purchased his contract from the Wild Things in August 2021.

The 29-year-old Meeker was a 2013 graduate of North Allegheny who won a WPIAL title as a senior and later played at Akron and Delaware. The 6-foot-4, 222-pounder joined the Wild Things in 2018 and helped them reach the Frontier League championship series.

Meeker is the fifth former Wild Things player to reach the majors, joining fellow pitchers Tom Cochran, Vidal Nuño, Chris Smith and Zac Grotz.

“It has been quite the journey for Meeker and we are so pleased the day has come where his number has been called,” Wild Things president and general manager Tony Buccilli said in a statement. “The development he put his body and arm through over the years was quite remarkable and he honestly out-worked many players to earn this opportunity.”

In 2021, Meeker’s best year with the Wild Things, he pitched 31 2/3 scoreless innings over 30 games. In 110 games since the Brewers acquired him, Meeker is 14-10 with a 2.71 ERA and 190 strikeouts in 202 1/3 innings.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: North Allegheny