As a junior in 1998, he became the first player in college history to hit 20 home runs, steal 20 bases, and win 10 games as a pitcher in the same year. The Gators advanced to the 1998 College World Series, and he was awarded the Rotary Smith Award as the most outstanding player in college baseball.[1]
The pitcher-outfielder holds a number of season and career school records, including career batting average (.381), career slugging percentage (.714), and career on-base percentage (.531).[2]
The Montreal Expos selected Wilkerson in the first round, with the 33rd overall selection, of the 1998 Major League Baseball draft.[7] Initially, he struggled in the minors. In 1999, Wilkerson hit .235 with eight home runs and 49 RBI with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators.[8] Back in the Eastern League to start the 2000 season, Wilkerson tore up the league, hitting .336 with six home runs, 44 RBI and 36 doubles in 66 games.[8] He was on pace to break the Eastern League record for doubles in a season before he was promoted to Triple-A Ottawa, of the International League. For the season, Wilkerson played in 129 games combined between Harrisburg and Ottawa, batting .295 with 18 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 47 doubles in 441 at-bats.[8]
While coming up through the minors, Wilkerson was a member of the gold medal-winning USA baseball team in the Sydney Olympics.[9] In one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history, Team USA defeated Cuba 4–0 in the Gold Medal Game.
Major leagues
Wilkerson made his major league debut with Montreal on July 12, 2001 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He finished the game 0-for-3 with a walk.[10] He recorded his first major league hit off Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox on July 17, 2001,[11] and his first major league home run off Atlanta Braves pitcher Jason Marquis on July 26, 2001.[12]
In 2002 and 2003, Wilkerson delivered almost identical seasons with a .266 average, 20 home runs and 59 RBI in 2002, and a .268 average, 19 home runs, and 77 RBI in 2003.[13] In 2002, Wilkerson's 20 home runs set an Expos rookie record, and he was named Rookie of the Year by The Sporting News.[9] His most productive season came in 2004, when he posted career-highs in homers (32), hits (146), doubles (39), runs (112), walks (106), slugging percentage (.498) and OPS (.872), and hitting .255 with 67 RBI.[13] He hit for the cycle on June 24, 2003, against Pittsburgh (with the Expos).[14] In that first instance, Wilkerson became the first player since 1957 to have the minimum four plate appearances and hit for a natural cycle.
In 2004, he hit the last home run in Montreal Expos franchise history. He appeared once more in an Expos uniform during the Major League Baseball Japan All-Star Series shortly after the 2004 regular season. The Expos were to become the Washington Nationals for the 2005 season, prompting some to refer to Wilkerson as "The Last Expo."
Wilkerson playing for the Nationals in 2005
Wilkerson opened the 2005 season as the regular center fielder and leadoff hitter after the Expos moved to Washington and became the Nationals. He hit for the cycle for the second time on April 6, 2005, against Philadelphia (with the Nationals, in their second game after moving from Montreal).[15] Wilkerson also hit the first grand slam home run hit by a Washington Nationals player.[16]
On December 7, 2005, Wilkerson was traded to the Texas Rangers along with outfielder Terrmel Sledge and minor league pitching prospect Armando Galarraga for second basemanAlfonso Soriano.[17] While playing for the Rangers in 2007, Wilkerson hit three home runs in one game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – the third player to do so in 2007 behind Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee.[18] An injury to, and later the trade of, Mark Teixeira led to Wilkerson making many of his starts at first base in 2007.
On January 31, 2008, Wilkerson signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Seattle Mariners.[19] On April 30, he was designated for assignment,[20] and on May 8 was given his unconditional release. On May 9, he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.[21] On August 22, he was put on the 15-day injured list with lower back spasms.[22] On October 30, 2008, Wilkerson filed for free-agency from Toronto.[23]
On February 16, 2009, Wilkerson signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Boston Red Sox.[24] He is one of the few players to play both major league Canadian teams, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Montreal Expos.[25]
Wilkerson decided to retire in 2009, having had one hit in nine Triple-A at-bats in the Boston minor league affiliate.[26] He retired with a .247 batting average, .350 on-base percentage and 122 career home runs.[13]
Attempting a comeback, Wilkerson signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on February 23, 2010.[27] However, he was released on March 29.[28]
Coaching career
In 2014, Wilkerson agreed to manage a middle school baseball team at The King's Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida, leading the team to a league championship in his first year.[29] After the season, Wilkerson was hired as the school's varsity baseball coach.[30]
Wilkerson is also a coach for USA Baseball. In 2014, he was named Volunteer Coach of the Year by the organization.[31]
On January 30, 2023, the New York Yankees hired Wilkerson as their assistant hitting coach.[32] The team relieved him of the position after the season and replaced him with Pat Roessler.[33]
Personal life
Wilkerson married Dana Marie Gleason in 2006. They have three children — Ella, Ava and Max. In 2006, he was named a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Ernie Fletcher, the highest honor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.[34]
Wilkerson participated in numerous charitable functions over the course of his Major League career and he continues to do so post-retirement. He holds a charity golf tournament annually to raise money for various children's charities.
