CPBL Foreign Players Updates Volume #418
Fubon Guardians News: Aaron Wilkerson
On December 30, the Fubon Guardians announced the signing of Aaron Wilkerson for the 2026 CPBL season. According to the team, the 36-year-old American right-hander is expected to arrive in Taiwan around February.
“Aaron Wilkerson has consistent command and a wide variety of pitches, and he is familiar with pitching in several Asian leagues over the past few years. We look forward to seeing him join the starting rotation,” the Guardians said in a press release.
Newest Member of Pro Ball Grand Slam Club!
With this signing, Aaron Wilkerson becomes the 29th player to join the exclusive “Pro Ball Grand Slam Club,” a group made up of players who have competed in all four major professional leagues: MLB, NPB, KBO, and CPBL.
Aaron Wilkerson began his professional career in 2014 with the Boston Red Sox organisation and made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Milwaukee Brewers. Between 2017 and 2019, he posted a combined 6.88 ERA and 1.58 WHIP over 35.1 MLB innings. His performance in Triple-A during that period was notably stronger, as he finished the 2019 season with a respectable 3.54 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across 76.1 innings.
Following that solid 2019 Triple-A campaign, Aaron Wilkerson attracted interest from several CPBL teams and ultimately signed with the Rakuten Monkeys for the 2020 season. However, due to family reasons, he opted out of his contract prior to spring training.
In 2021, Aaron Wilkerson spent the entire season with the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate, where he delivered an excellent 3.86 ERA over 112 innings. That performance earned him another opportunity in Asia, this time with the Hanshin Tigers of Japan’s NPB. During the 2022 season, he recorded a 4.09 ERA and 1.28 WHIP over 70.2 innings.
After leaving NPB, Aaron Wilkerson signed a minor league deal with the Oakland Athletics in 2023 and was assigned to Triple-A. Midway through the season, he made the move to the KBO, where he spent the next two years with the Lotte Giants. Across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, he compiled a strong 3.39 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 276.1 innings. Notably, in 2024, he led the KBO with 196.2 innings pitched.
Prior to signing with the Fubon Guardians, Aaron Wilkerson spent the 2025 season in Triple-A with the Reds and Cardinals organisations. Over 152.2 innings, he posted a 3.89 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. For comparison, the International League’s average ERA in 2025 was 4.67, and Aaron Wilkerson led the league in innings pitched that season.
With the signing of Aaron Wilkerson, the Fubon Guardians currently have Suzuki Shunsuke and Shawn Morimando as their group of foreign players for the 2026 CPBL season.
Further Readings
Foreign players come and go. Therefore, we have compiled a foreign player tracker, and I’ll be updating that list regularly to keep pace with the ever-changing roster shuffle throughout the 2026 CPBL season.