PRESSBOX

• 8/14/8: Dykstra unsigned as deadline looms "We think Dykstra will probably come down to the last day," San Diego general manager Kevin Towers said. "This one had a couple of hurdles ... some curveballs that we weren't expecting. So that's why it's taken a little more time."

• 2/17/8: Dykstra named to Golden Spikes watchlist "Wake Forest junior first baseman Allan Dykstra has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2008 Golden Spikes Award, as announced Friday by USA Baseball. The award is presented annually to the premier amateur baseball player. "

• 5/1/7: Selected as Golden Spikes Award finalist

• 5/16/6: Leaving ACC Foes in His Wake "Dykstra is hitting .335 and leads the Atlantic Coast Conference with 14 homers and 55 RBIs on a team that is 32-17. He also has 16 doubles and has struck out just 26 times in 233 plate appearances."

Leads the ACC in home runs (14), walks (43), slugging percentage (.767), sacrifice flies (8) and on-base percentage (.502)... only player in the ACC to lead the league in five different offensive categories... ranks second in doubles (16), RBI (53) and total bases (112)... on track to be the first freshman to lead the ACC in home runs, slugging percentage and on-base percentage since Derek Hacopian of Maryland in 1992... could become only the third rookie to ever accomplish such a feat in the 53-year history of the Atlantic Coast Conference... earned Pepsi Baseball Classic All-Tournament team and College Baseball Foundation Honor Roll (April 3)... was named Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week (April 3)... batted .786 (11-for-14) with five home runs and 11 RBI... added three doubles, eight runs scored and drew five walks... recorded an absurd slugging percentage of 2.071 and on-base percentage of .850... tied the Wake Forest single-game school record with three home runs against Davidson on March 28... has recorded 15 multi-RBI games, including a pair of five RBI outings... registered 15 multi-hit games... has been intentionally walked four times.

• 4/3/6: Named National Player of the Week

• 3/30/6: Three homers lift Deacs to 14-6 win

• 1/30/6: In the dugout with Dykstra

• 1/17/6: Named to Baseball America's "Fab 50"

 About Dykstra... One of the top first basemen in the country... appears on the Brooks Wallace Award preseason watch list... will look to build upon his strong first-year campaign... provided an immediate impact in the middle of the order as one of the best freshmen in the country... only the second Deac ever to be named ACC Rookie of the Year... incredible power with the ability to hit 15-20 home runs a season... rated by Baseball America as the No. 41 prospect in his freshman class across the country... drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 34th round of the 2005 MLB Draft -- only Demon Deacon in that class drafted... chose Wake Forest over San Diego, Stanford, UCLA and Vanderbilt... undecided major... son of Randy & Cathy Dykstra.

In 2006... Named ACC Rookie of the Year... tabbed a Freshman All-American by Rivals.com, Louisville Slugger and Baseball America... selected to the 2006 Dick Howser Trophy Watch List, awarded annually to the top player in collegiate baseball by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA)... named National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball and Louisville Slugger for the week of April 3 after going 11-for-14 (.786) with five home runs and 11 RBIs in a seven-day span... named to the 2006 Pepsi Baseball Classic All-Tournament team... led the Demon Deacons in slugging percentage (.670), on-base percentage (.479), RBIs (56), home runs (15), walks (51), sacrifice flies (9) and tied for the team-high in games played (55) and started (55)... led the ACC in OPS, slugging percentage and was tied for the lead in sacrifice flies and ranked second in home runs, third in walks and tied for third in on-base percentage... set an ACC record with 29 putouts in the Deacs' 20-inning game against Florida State on May 6... named to the All-ACC Academic Team.

Prior to Wake Forest... Started at Rancho Bernardo HS since his sophomore season... helped perennial powerhouse to the Palomar League Championship and a second-place finish in the CIF playoffs... ended the year with a record of 27-6 and a national ranking of #20 (USA Today) and #23 (Baseball America)... one of only 30 players in the country selected to the 18-and-under Junior National Team in 2004... had the highest batting average and on-base percentage and second-highest slugging percentage in the USA Tournament of Stars in Joplin, Missouri... attended the Perfect Game Western Underclass Showcase where he was named the No. 2 Top Prospect... scored a 1330 on his SAT and ranked 27th in his class of 725 with a 4.1 grade point average.
 

Imposing figures in classroom also able to excel on the field
By Nicole Vargas
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

June 7, 2005

Allan Dykstra

Whether at first base or in the batter's box, Rancho Bernardo High's Allan Dykstra has been an imposing baseball talent for the Division I champion Broncos.

Reaching these heights, though, hasn't come easily for Dykstra.

The 6-foot-6 senior is just as accomplished in the classroom, scoring 1,330 on the SAT and ranking in the top 5 percent of his class.

The summer after his freshman year, Dykstra underwent major hip surgery to remove the damage of avascular necrosis, the same ailment that led to a premature end to Bo Jackson's career in baseball and football.

The surgery left Dykstra in a body cast for three months and on crutches for three more.

Dykstra, who said his senior season ranks as the proudest moment of his high school career, credits his parents, Randy and Catherine.

"All their support and pride in everything I do (is an inspiration)," Dykstra said.

Dykstra is among 12 Captains named to the Union-Tribune All-Academic Team for spring high school sports. The Captain's award represents each sport's Student-Athlete of the Year.

In Sunday's editions, the U-T recognized 5,045 juniors and seniors as members of the All-Academic Team for maintaining a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade-point average while playing a California Interscholastic Federation-approved varsity sport.

Selection of the Captains and the 112 members of the All-Academic First Teams was based on academic and athletic achievement and overall leadership.

March 16, 2006

First baseman Allan Dykstra has already swung his way to becoming a powerful force on the Wake Forest baseball team. Ranked as the No. 41 prospect nationwide in the freshman class this power-hitter has the ability to hit 15 to 20 home runs this season. Thus far he has already hit four. In 2005, he was selected by the Red Sox in the 34th round of the MLB draft. Dykstra was one of just 30 players in the country selected to the 18-and-under Junior National team in 2004. The California native has proven that the change from West to East coast has not affected his game in the least. The Old Gold & Black’s assistant sports editor Lizzie Rosen recently spoke with Dykstra on being in the Top 25, being drafted by the Red Sox and the team this season.

On being drafted in the 2005 MLB draft:

It was a really exciting time and it was a hard decision to make to not go for it.  I looked at the value of school and decided it was important to have an education as a person. Ultimately I decided it was better to have an education for the future.

On baseball being ranked in the Top 25:

I don’t think about it. I stick to a team approach. The ranking is never in my mind, I always just play to win.

On stepping up to the plate:

Honestly, I try to clear my mind. There are lots of distractions like the intro songs and the pitcher. Normally I do a knee press and focus on the trees in center field. You can’t really think and hit at the same time.

On his favorite pitch to hit:

I prefer fastballs, because they are the type of ball that goes the farthest. It’s the type of pitch you hope to get but never do. It’s a classic pitch, the kind of pitch you dream about.

On the team taking 12 new players this season:

Taking such a big class allowed a whole new attitude to be brought to the team. Last year the team struggled but now with a new coach and class you have more than players with talent, there is a winning attitude. You can really see the difference on the field and in the clubhouse.

On his intro song:

My intro song is “My Hood” by Young Jeezy. I came up with it on our first road trip. We went through the music we liked and few people liked rap so I went with the most gangster song I could think of, just for the heck of it. I liked it because it’s off beat from all the others.

On not taking a role model for his game:

I don’t really model my game after anyone. Baseball is the type of sport where you have your own style for things.

On batting left and throwing right:

I really don’t know why it happened that way. I guess it was just how I picked up the bat. 

2005 Alaska Goldpanners
 

2006 Wake Forest