Cal State Bakersfield first baseman and designated hitter Devon Wilkes will be one of the players to watch in the Big West in 2027.
He was the 2026 Big West Freshman Field Player of the Year with the Roadrunners and had a huge summer in the 2026 Appalachian League with the Danville Otterbots.
Wilkes and his freshman season in Bakersfield, summer with Danville
In 2026, Wilkes had a .289 batting average with Cal State Bakersfield. He also had 17 doubles, five home runs, and 43 RBIs.
Along with being the Big West Freshman Field Player of the Year, he was also named second-team All-Big West.
After his freshman season with the Roadrunners, Wilkes joined the 2026 Appalachian League and played with the Danville Otterbots in Virginia.
In 99 at-bats with Danville, he had a .364 batting average with seven home runs and 53 RBIs. Wilkes also had a 1.082 OPS and an on-base percentage of .405.
The incoming Cal State Bakersfield sophomore also had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage at first base with the Otterbots. He recorded 143 putouts and had 20 assists.
Wilkes was a part of the 2026 All-Appalachian League team as a designated hitter. He was one of four Danville players to make the team.
Heading into his sophomore season, Wilkes has the chance to elevate himself and become the Roadrunners' best hitter.
Cal State Bakersfield 2026 season results
In 2026, the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners finished with a 23-32 overall record and a 11-19 record in Big West play.
They finished in ninth place in the Big West standings, which put them ahead of the Long Beach State Dirtbags and the UC Riverside Highlanders.
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