HONOLULU — A 35-year-old University of Hawaii alumnus picked up a bat for the first time in more than a year, promptly worked a 3-0 count and laced a standup double down the left-field line.

Kolten Wong looked back at the visitors dugout at Les Murakami Stadium and raised his palms to the air.

Wong, the recently retired MLB veteran, was a spontaneous edition to the annual UH alumni game roster. Now living mostly on Oahu with his young family, Wong heard about the game on the news earlier this week and decided he’d play in his first alumni game since he played in one after being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2011 MLB Draft.

[Note: See below for more photos of the UH baseball alumni game.]

His double and classic shrug and the two-time Gold Glover’s 4-3 double play, both in the first inning, were among the day’s highlights.

“I hit behind him a good amount of my career, so I’m used to seeing that stuff,” Piikea Kitamura, Wong’s old UH teammate, told Spectrum News. “I got a front-row show. But he makes it look so easy. It’s part of what makes him great, is he’s a great competitor. I’m a little salty he got his hit before me, but I guess that’s the big league in him.”

Wong announced his retirement at the same site last spring, but it was his first time in action on the one-year-old turf — and his first time playing at the Les since his likeness was added to the centerfield wall as a program legend.

“It’s a little different, obviously a little more pressure,” Wong said with a chuckle. “I was laughing because the last time I picked up a bat was the last time I played. It was about a year and a half ago. So it was nice to get out and get the first hit. It was nice to be around the game again.”

Hawaii legend Kolten Wong played second base in front of his outfield likeness on the Les Murakami Stadium centerfield wall. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Wong still appeared in playing shape after playing his final MLB game with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2023 NL Division Series (though he hadn’t swung a metal bat since he was an All-WAC performer at UH in the early 2010s).

He downplayed some of the oohs he got from younger alums.

“I was honestly surprised,” Wong said. “The first couple balls I took, I was like, ‘oh man, it doesn’t seem as hard as I expected it to be.’ So that was definitely a good indicator for me. (A) 3-0 (count), though, I don’t think you try to shoot the ball to left field. Some of the young guys were like, ‘man, it’s like you never finished playing!’ I was like, ‘bro, I was trying to pull that ball, if that tells you anything.’”

Otherwise, it was a runaway day for the modern Rainbow Warriors, who are preparing their final season in the Big West Conference before realigning to the Mountain West. The season opener against Gonzaga is Feb. 13.

The present-day ‘Bows batted around for seven runs in the second inning and won the day 14-0.

Fifth-year UH coach Rich Hill, who in December received a three-year contract extension from Athletic Director Matt Elliott, said he was glad to see alums like Wong, Kaeo Aliviado, Kyson Donahue and Breland Almadova — but it also added to his stress level.

“These things always scare me,” Hill said. “I’ve lost alumni games before, at San Diego twice. When you look out there, that’s what’s supposed to happen. You’re supposed to develop all these guys, have them go out into pro baseball and come back in the alumni game. It’s like you’re playing against a pro team. Connor Harrison’s a pro pitcher. So I’ve just been to the dark side on alumni games.

“It’s tricky, too, because one side is just having the time of their lives and it’s loosey goosey,” he added. “Our side, we’re trying to prepare and just get better each day and stay focused and have a dress rehearsal in the competition zone.”

He gave the start to Hilo High alumnus Hekili Robello, a 6-foot-5 right-hander who came in from Santa Rosa Junior College.

“Hekili’s got good stuff, he just pitched to a little too much contact today, but I’d rather have that than walk people,” Hill said. He also spoke highly of senior Ryan Inouye, a Kailua High and Hawaii Pacific alumnus, and freshman Brody Martin-Grudzielanek, the son of MLB veteran Mark Grudzielanek.

UH did not use its pitchers who are projected to make up the starting rotation — Isaiah Magdaleno, Liam O’Brien and Sebastian Gonzalez.

Former first baseman Ben Zeigler-Namoa made a highlight diving catch in right field. The super senior from Lahaina, Kamana Nahaku and Quinnipiac transfer Gabe Wright make up what Hill calls “one of the best outfields in the country.”

Hill lauded Oklahoma transfer Christian Hoffman, Nahaku, Elijah Ickes and Cody Watanabe for their hitting Saturday.

“I think really the star of the fall and Japan (for our offseason trip) is Tate Shimao,” Hill said. “Local boy that came home by way of Cal Poly. You can see his at-bats, he had like a 15-pitch at-bat at one point, and then got a base knock. He’s really emerged. He’s been fantastic all fall and all training camp.”

Some 50 alums spanning the decades turned out, though less than half played. Wong expressed excitement about UH, which made a run in last year’s Big West tournament and has back-to-back 35-win seasons under Hill. The program still hasn’t made an NCAA Tournament since 2010, when Wong starred.

“Rich has the guys kind of rolling in the right direction,” Wong said. “Seeing us get back to the regionals and get to the place where UH baseball wants to be. The fans here are passionate, they want to see good players, so I think Rich is doing an amazing job of bringing in good talent, especially local talent. Keeping it in house.”

The teams shook hands and keiki took to the Les Murakami field.

Kitamura noted that wherever Wong goes, keiki follow him for autographs and photos.

“For me it’s always (about) seeing the guys who’ve come before,” Kitamura said. “The young kids running around here, they want to be the next Kolten Wong.”

Kolten Wong shrugged next to infielder Kody Watanabe after hitting a standup double down the leftfield line to begin his surprise appearance in the UH alumni game. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Hawaii right fielder Ben Zeigler-Namoa dove for a ball. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Ben Zeigler-Namoa, UH’s former first baseman, completed the diving catch. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

UH alum Naighel Calderon, left, was thrown out as new first baseman Tino Bethancourt, a San Diego State transfer, manned the bag. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Hawaii alum Piikea Kitamura, left, warmed up next to Kolten Wong. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Hawaii right-hander Brody Martin-Grudzielanek deliverd a pitch. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Kolten Wong laughed after misfiring on a throw to first base on the run. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Kolten Wong took a rest next to fellow alum Kaeo Aliviado. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Cal Poly transfer Tate Shimao got a hug from an alumnus after getting thrown out at third base. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Oklahoma transfer Christian Hoffman slid into home plate safely for a run ahead of the throw. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

First baseman Tino Bethancourt, a San Diego State transfer, ranged into foul ground to make a catch. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Hekili Robello, a Hilo High alum and Santa Rosa Junior College transfer, got the start for UH in the alumni game. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Kody Watanabe made a leaping snare of a ball playing second base. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

UH alum Jake Tsukada shook hands with first baseman Tino Bethancourt after making an out. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

UH alum Kaeo Aliviado ran back to the visitors dugout with a smile after a side change. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Kaeo Aliviado, left, greeted Kolten Wong as he came off the field. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

UH alums Jon Hee, in orange, and Naighel Calderon near the visitors dugout. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Kolten Wong doubled down the left-field line in the first inning. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Cal Poly transfer Tate Shimao was lauded by UH coach Rich Hill as the team’s star of the fall. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Connor Harrison threw a pitch for the UH alums. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Hawaii super senior Ben Zeigler-Namoa watched a ball carry foul. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Hawaii legend Kolten Wong prepared to initiate a double play as shortstop Matt Campos backed him up. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Matt Campos glove-pumped Kolten Wong after his double play. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Piikea Kitamura, left, greeted Kolten Wong after his double play. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

UH alum and strength coach Tommy Heffernan greeted players as they returned to the dugout. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.