The University of Hawai‘i baseball team's annual alumni game received a pleasant surprise on Saturday afternoon when program legend Kolten Wong, the most decorated position player in program history, suited up unannounced.
Wong, 35, had not made a public appearance at Les Murakami Stadium since confirming his retirement as a player in May. Though not listed on the initial alumni roster, his return was certainly a welcome one.
During his time wearing a Hawai‘i uniform from 2009 to 2011, Wong was one of the best hitters in college baseball, slugging 25 home runs, 47 doubles, nine triples and 145 RBI, all while maintaining a .358 career batting average. The Kamehameha-Hawai‘i alumnus and Hilo native earned Freshman All-America honors in 2009, as well as WAC Freshman of the Year. In 2011, he earned first-team All-America honors from the ABCA and Perfect Game USA. In each of three seasons, he was also a first-team All-WAC selection.
As a pro, Wong was selected in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, establishing himself as one of Major League Baseball's top defenders, winning Gold Gloves at second base in 2019 and 2020. Wong played at the Major League level for the Cardinals from 2013 to 2020, then for the Milwaukee Brewers from 2021 to 2022. In his final season in the majors in 2023, he played for both the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers. Wong signed minor league contracts with the Baltimore Orioles and Arizona Diamondbacks in 2024 before calling it a career the following May.
Wong showed his glove and his bat on Saturday. In the top of the first inning, he belted a 3-0 fastball down the left field line for a double. In the bottom of the frame, a slick 4-4-3 double play kept the 2026 Rainbow Warriors scoreless in the first inning. Among the changes from Wong's last game at the Les to Saturday was the mural in right field paying tribute to Wong, whose No. 14 is the only jersey number retired in program history.
The modern day Rainbow Warriors eventually ran away with a 14-0 victory in seven innings, but Wong showed he still has it at his old stomping grounds. Not bad for someone who says he hasn't picked up a bat since he was in the pros.
"It was nice to get out and just kind of be around the game again," Wong said afterwards. "It's just fun at this point. For me, it's just about being around these guys and kind of showing the appreciation that I have for this school and what they gave me."
Hawai‘i's starting pitcher on Saturday was certainly familiar with Wong. Hekili Robello, a transfer from Santa Rosa Junior College, originally hails from Hilo.
"Not gonna lie, I was a little nervous," Robello said. "But it was honestly awesome. Being from Hilo means a lot, and he's also one of my favorite guys to watch. He's a huge role model, especially for baseball players in Hilo. He's made a huge impact. It's awesome to see him play."
Wong says he likes his chances of competing in the alumni game on an annual basis. He and his wife, Alissa, recently bought a home on O‘ahu. When asked about how retirement is treating him, Wong says he's immersed in raising his two young boys, Kash (4) and Kruz (2).
"It's been good. I got two boys, so they've been keeping me busy. It was kind of the main reason why I did retire is I wanted to be around them," Wong said. "I have a father who was instrumental in my life and my development, and wanted to make sure that when my kids are old enough, I could be that dad for them. So, it definitely was the right decision."
For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
