One of the hardest things to do in sports is to hit a pitched baseball and for that matter not just hit it, but hit hit hard. The big bodied left-handed out of Pacifica Devon Wilkes not only makes this task look easier than it really is he does with impressive authority. I’ve now seen Wilkes play on the varsity level for three years and he has continually hit over and over and this look was no different for the CSU Bakersfield commit in the third game of the 2025 season. In his first at bat after a bit of a scuffle on the mound to start the game Wilkes spit on a pair of early offspeed pitches out of the zone and then capitalized on a mistake from the LH pitcher of Simi Valley to uncork on a rocket line drive homer to RCF which traveled well over 400’, but his day was far from done in his second at bat he stayed through an outer half offering to lace a hard single to LF, in his third trip he was hit in the back foot by a breaking ball, but the icing on the cake was his fourth trip when he ambushed a FB just above the knees out over the plate and drilled an absolute missile line drive homer just to the right of dead centerfield. Wilkes is easily my favorite hitter on the Central Coast and with his emerging feel to get to loud raw power in game looks primed to take the next step in his offensive profile in 2025.
10/20/24
Devon Wilkes, Pacifica (CA), 2025 Positional Profile: 1B Loud LH power profile with impressive approach and feel to hit that shows big time offensive profile. Solid defender at 1B. Body: 6-0, 230-pounds. Big strong build with strength in body while showing room to polish. Hit: LHH. Open stance with a taller posture and weight centered in middle of his body. High back elbow wih hands set around ear height in between rear shoulder and his head with a flatter bat angle. Small shift into his back side with weight while tipping his barrel up into the loaded position with a small forward move. Explosive operation with his bat speed and hand speed while showing torque. Stays taller in turn with quick hips and rear shoulder driving through the baseball. Hands are compact and direct with leverage in his bat path to a one handed finish. 76.4 mph bat speed with 11 G's of rotational acceleration. Power: 107 max exit velocity, averaged 95.9 mph. 412' max distance. Explosive raw power while showing consistency to his hard hit contact. Ball explodes off the bat with carry to the pull side. Middle to pull approach with accurate barrel shows hit with power profile. Arm: LH. INF-75 mph. Easy loose arm with some length to it that shows carry to throws. Accuracy was effected by sore hamstring but has solid arm strength. Defense: Good mover who can go laterally/downhill well for bigger body. Sure handed with solid profile at 1B.
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Devon Wilkes, Pacifica (CA), 2025
Positional Profile: 1B Loud LH power profile with impressive approach and feel to hit that shows big time offensive profile. Solid defender at 1B.
Body: 6-0, 230-pounds. Big strong build with strength in body while showing room to polish.
Hit: LHH. Open stance with a taller posture and weight centered in middle of his body. High back elbow wih hands set around ear height in between rear shoulder and his head with a flatter bat angle. Small shift into his back side with weight while tipping his barrel up into the loaded position with a small forward move. Explosive operation with his bat speed and hand speed while showing torque. Stays taller in turn with quick hips and rear shoulder driving through the baseball. Hands are compact and direct with leverage in his bat path to a one handed finish. 76.4 mph bat speed with 11 G's of rotational acceleration.
Power: 107 max exit velocity, averaged 95.9 mph. 412' max distance. Explosive raw power while showing consistency to his hard hit contact. Ball explodes off the bat with carry to the pull side. Middle to pull approach with accurate barrel shows hit with power profile.
Arm: LH. INF-75 mph. Easy loose arm with some length to it that shows carry to throws. Accuracy was effected by sore hamstring but has solid arm strength.
Defense: Good mover who can go laterally/downhill well for bigger body. Sure handed with solid profile at 1B.