Augusta University

Shannon Wilkerson stands as one of the most decorated and productive players in the history of Augusta baseball. Over the course of two seasons, he developed into one of the most feared hitters in Division II, ultimately earning recognition as the 2009 ABCA Division II National Player of the Year.

In 2008, Wilkerson hit .380 with 16 home runs and 57 RBI. Over his career, he played in 212 games and became known for his ability to impact every facet of the game with his bat, speed, and defense. He is one of only two Jaguars ever to hit for the cycle in a game. His 2009 campaign remains one of the finest single seasons ever recorded by a Jaguar. Wilkerson played in 57 games and batted .441 with 101 hits, 82 runs scored, 24 home runs, 82 runs batted in, 17 doubles, and seven triples. He posted an .891 slugging percentage, drew 30 walks while striking out only 16 times, and stole 13 bases. His efforts earned him Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year honors, First Team All-PBC selection, and the prestigious ABCA/Rawlings Division II Gold Glove as an outfielder. He still holds Augusta single-season records for runs (82), hits (101), RBI (82), and total bases (204).

Wilkerson was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the eighth round of the 2009 MLB Draft and quickly advanced through the minor league system. He spent parts of eight professional seasons in the Red Sox organization, reaching Triple-A Pawtucket in 2014, where he played in a career-high 130 games. Along the way, he recorded one of the most memorable highlights of his career during a 2011 spring training game, when he pinch-hit for Hall of Famer David Ortiz and faced Hall of Fame pitcher Roy Halladay, drawing a walk in the at-bat.