Devon Wilkes bursts onto the Big West scene with bat-first impact
In the 2026 season, freshman Devon Wilkes became one of Cal State Bakersfield’s most valuable lineup pieces, earning Big West Freshman Field Player of the Year after hitting .289 with 58 hits, 17 doubles, 5 home runs, and 43 RBI in 53 games. He also showed steady glove work with a .978 fielding percentage and flashed real juice in key moments, including a 6-RBI, 8-for-17 week in April. Why care? He’s a left-handed bat with run-producing pop, a polished feel to hit, and the kind of competitive edge that tends to travel well.
