Las Vegas product Chase Wilk is making his mark in maroon and gold.
The Bishop Gorman graduate carried his power to the University of Minnesota, where the freshman infielder is turning heads. Wilk helped lead Gorman to this year’s 5A state championship, earning the playoff nickname “Mr. May” for his consistent impact at the plate before winning the school’s prestigious Mr. Gael Award.
This fall, Wilk hit two home runs with exit velocities of 104 and 106 mph; one traveled 412 feet to dead center at a 23-degree launch angle. Named Freshman of the Fall by the Gopher Baseball Manager Association, he led Minnesota freshmen with a 1.072 OPS, batting .308 with a .457 on-base percentage. He ranked third on the team in home runs per at-bat and had the second-lowest strikeout rate at 14.3%.
“Chase has shown some encouraging signs as a freshman. His maturity and plate presence are above his age,” head coach Ty McDevitt said. “He will need to continue to produce at the plate and develop defensively.”
D1Baseball co-owner and writer Kendall Rogers noted Wilk’s first college game included “three hits and a home run 104 mph off the bat.”
Wilk’s father continues to celebrate the work behind the breakout. His Instagram comments say it all: “Kid’s been putting in the work since he was six years old, and now it’s showing up where it counts. More than the numbers, I’m just happy he loves where he is. The right coaches, the best teammates, and a program that feels like home. So proud of the young man he’s becoming.”
Chase Wilk joins a Gopher lineup featuring returning power-hitting seniors Ty Allen, Michael Lippe and Jack Bello, plus fall standouts Tanner Recchio, Kobe Eikmeier, Brock Bearden, Blake Eckerle and USC transfer Jarrett Sabol. Freshmen Noah Asuma, Bennett Skinner and Maddux Lessard are also showing strong potential as the fall season ends.
Minnesota’s latest “hardest hits” video on their Instagram page is a statement piece. Nine Gophers registered exit velocities between 104.4 and 112.6 mph, a stretch of raw, loud contact that jumps off the screen. Lippe, Bello and Sabol owned the top of the list, separating themselves with the hardest swings of the group. Wilk’s 106 mph, 412-foot home run dead center stood out as one of the clearest displays of power, while Akin, Asuma, Allen, Bearden, and Lessard filled out a lineup full of legitimate thunder. This is the kind of offensive strength that travels and the kind of group that forces pitchers to stay honest.
After a program-record nine Gophers were selected in the 2026 MLB Draft, Minnesota must replace significant innings. McDevitt said losing draft picks creates opportunities and that the staff believes players can step into those roles.
Judging from the fall season, right-handers to watch include returners Adam Urban and Luke Ryerse; transfers Tanner Foertsch and Mason Butash; sophomore Ethan Felling; and freshmen Ryan Christiansen and Hudson Ohm, who have reached 93–97 mph and 94 mph, respectively. McDevitt sees “a good mix of returning players, young talent, and newcomers who can make an immediate impact.” On the pitching transition, he said, “We believe we have players capable of stepping into those roles.”
With Wilk’s promising start, strong talent across the roster, and an experienced coaching staff, Minnesota has plenty to build on as it looks ahead to 2027 in the Big Ten.
