Wake Forest Athletics
Deacon Sports Xtra: Intriguing Introduction
6/16/2021 12:00:00 PM | Baseball, Gold Rush
Third baseman Brock Wilken produces freshman home run tear.
Brock Wilken's introduction to college baseball turned out to be just a preview of a special season for the Wake Forest freshman.
The Demon Deacons look forward to the encore from the slugging infielder.
His 17 home runs were the most in the country by a true freshman through the regular season. There were plenty of eyes on the newcomer, and that was just fine.
Wilken has been used to the attention, playing in front of a dozen scouts at times in high school.
"It helped me prepare for college," he said. "With (Wake Forest pitcher) Ryan Cusick and the stud he is, we're playing in front of five or six (major-league) GMs every game."
The attention was on him again with the Demon Deacons, sometimes because of draft-eligible teammates though they were certainly interested in checking on Wilken as well. Scouts occupying a half-dozen rows of seats might descend on David F. Couch Ballpark.
Wilken felt he fit in amid that setting.
"I knew 100 percent it was the right decision," he said of taking his talents to Winston-Salem.
Still, Wilken said he doesn't consider himself a power hitter. He covets a more well-rounded reputation.
"I classify myself as a really good hitter with some power," he said. "I try to hit as many hard doubles as I can."
Before he played for Wake Forest, Wilken was intrigued by the possibilities of turning pro. He belted 12 home runs in 25 games as a junior before a pandemic-shortened senior season for Bloomingdale High School in Florida.
"I thought we had a good chance to lose him," Wake Forest head coach Tom Walter said. "I think there is going to be a lot of Florida-area scouts that are going to have some hard questions to answer in three years when he's high up the (draft) board. … I think there are going to be some scouts with some questions to answer, for sure."
Yet, some observers might have wanted to see Wilken in more games prior to the restructured 2020 draft. It didn't matter to him as he saw the best avenue going through Winston-Salem despite also taking early official visits to Miami and Virginia Tech.
"I wanted to prove some people wrong," he said. "I just believe in myself."
Part of Wilken's roots as a youth were planted in North Carolina. Born in New Mexico, he spent about 10 years in the Gastonia area before the family moved to Florida.
That first college game included a game-winning three-run home run against Northeastern.
"That honestly was the sickest moment of my entire life so far," he said. "It was so cool."
He also called it a confidence boost, more evidence that he could excel on the collegiate level. That blast was simply the start of something that continued through the next few months. By late May, Wilken tied the school record for homers by a Wake Forest freshman set 20 years earlier by Jamie D'Antona.
"I kind of don't want to pay attention to it," he said of the record. "Everyone sees it. You have to try to stay away from it. … That's a really huge accomplishment and a huge honor to be one of those freshmen who holds a record. There's some time to reflect after the season. (I intend to) go into next year with the same intent and energy I had going into this year."
He rated among the top 10 in the Atlantic Coast Conference in runs batted in and slugging percentage in landing a spot on the All-ACC third team, the league's all-freshman team and Collegiate Baseball's Freshman All-American team.
With such notable first-year results, Wilken already was adjusting because pitchers altered their approaches from the mound.
"I think my biggest struggle right now is that the book on me is changing every game," he said.
Wilken was more than a player holding a big bat in the Wake Forest lineup. He had an 11-game hitting streak on his way to a .279 batting average with 44 RBI in 47 games.
He said that the biggest learning opportunities came when dealing with the team's wavering results. The Demon Deacons finished the season with a 20-27 record, although they concluded the season on a positive note with a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh.
Through the team's ups and downs, Wilken had a voice. He stepped into a leadership role, figuring he needed to do more than present a challenge for opposing pitchers.
"I just felt like it was time for something to be said," he recalled. "I felt like it was the right time and right moment to say something. I know I'm strong enough and good enough to take that role."
Wilken had the production to back up the words. For instance, there were two homers and six RBI in an 8-7 win at Florida State in late March.
He did this while contributing on defense in various ways. He once prepared as a catcher under the tutelage of Eddie Rodriquez, who's now catching coach for the Miami Marlins, and that might have been a good thing. He had made the transition to be a third baseman, but the Demon Deacons needed him behind the plate during the preseason until Brendan Tinsman recovered from an injury.
Wilken, who started every game as a third baseman, was eager to help in any way possible.
"He's such a tough kid. He's a gamer. He plays hard," Walter said. "We put him back behind the plate. … He just did it for the team. He didn't get the reps at third that he would have otherwise gotten. He never complained. He just showed up every day. One of the hardest workers on the team."
Wilken said that the support of many of the veterans on the team was critical. He hit in front of slugger Bobby Seymour in the batting order. He relied on catcher Shane Muntz for counsel.
"It definitely has been an experience," Wilken said. "I can say with 100 percent certainty I was ready to come play college baseball. I was ready for that change."
He said he looks forward to more in-person classes in the fall after the pandemic altered the academic blueprint for his first school year on campus.
Wilken, who turns 19 in mid-June, headed off to the Cape Cod Baseball League for college standouts this summer. He's on the Harwich Mariners roster, pegged to play as a third baseman and first baseman.
So following such an encouraging first year of college, there's more for him to accomplish in 2021. He said the time devoted to on- and off-field maturity has been invaluable.
"I needed to come play college baseball for a little bit to mature and to learn a lot more," Wilken said. "I definitely made the right decision by coming to Wake Forest."
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