As if Big Island baseball youth baseball players didn’t have enough reasons to look up to Kolten Wong, now they have another. Especially those who aspire to play for the University of Hawaii.
The former Rainbow Warriors All-American’s jersey number has been retired, making Wong’s No. 14 just the third such jersey to be on display at Les Murakami Stadium outfield, alongside Murakami’s No. 11 and Derek Tatsuno’s No. 16.
Coach Mike Trapasso made the announcement Sunday at the program’s Grand Slam Celebration in Honolulu.
“This is truly a blessing,” Wong said during a video for club members. “What an honor this is. I feel really humbled that I was chosen. It’s truly unbelievable to think that my number is going to be on that wall and every time I come back, I’ll be able to see that and remember the times I had at UH.”
Including a career. 358 batting average from 2009-11 that ranks fourth, the Hilo native and 2008 Kamehameha graduate still ranks in the top 10 in several career statistical categories: home runs (second, 25), slugging percentage (third, .563), hits (ninth, 245) doubles (10th, 47) and total bases (seventh, 385).
“My times here were magical,” said Wong, who is preparing for his fourth full season with the St. Louis Cardinals. “I grew up as a young kid watching UH baseball and cheering them on. When I got the chance to come to UH, I turned down every other school. I knew this is where I wanted to be – I wanted to be a Warrior, I wanted to be a Rainbow. I wanted to fight and play in front of my fans, in front of my family and in front of all of Hawaii.”
Since Wong left, the Big Island to Manoa pipeline has continued to flow. Chayce Kaa’ua (Hilo High, 2013) and Daylen Calicdan (Kamehameha, 2016) are on the team this season and the following BIIF players have committed to Hawaii: Hilo’s Micah Bello and Joey Jarneski, and Kamehameha’s DallasJ Duarte and Tai Atkins.
According to a university release, the newly-mounted outfield panel for Wong will be ready to go for the Rainbow Warriors during the opening weekend series against No. 6 N.C. State on Feb. 17.
“The incredible accomplishments on the field, and the type of person he is off the field made this an easy decision, Trapasso said. “That’s rarefied air and well deserved.”