Golden boy: Kannapolis baseball team’s hype man teamed up with ‘mini-me’ on Next Gen Day

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — At every ballpark, there’s a team behind the team. Even if you’re not on the player roster, there’s no place like a homestand with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers.

“So again, I’m the weird Trevor Wilt guy,” the team’s entertainment and fan engagement director told a crowd of kids before Tuesday’s game, which was Next Gen Day.“We’re going to have some fun no matter what, even if you feel awkward doing it.”

Then, he transformed, wearing his trademark metallic vest and bow tie, Wilt became the hype man sometimes known as “The Gold Guy.”

Trevor met his match in Cannon Ballers fan Ernest Allred, who’s 8 years old and donned a glittery vest and tie for the game.

“It’s fun because I get to do exactly what Trevor does the whole game,” said Allred.

“We take for granted how fun our jobs are and how many kids would love to do this one day, so there’s an awesome community of kids around us,” Wilt told Queen City News.

Ten children got an inside baseball lesson, including various aspects of the operation, from broadcasting to groundskeeping.

“I think I’m more active than our players are,” Wilt joked.

From the tunnel to the field, Wilt walks about 15,000 steps per nine innings. On Next Gen Day, little Ernest walked a mile in his shoes.

“That’s been coming untied all the time,” Allred said as Wilt tied his shoes for him.

“You need to get some gold slip-ons,” says Wilt, offering some sage advice for a growing hype man.

“Yeah, you heard that right Two Dollar Tuesday,” Wilt announcing the taco discount to the crowd.

With all that energy, it seems like Trevor was shot out of a cannon.

“Good job my friend, let’s get it, let’s get it,” he says, hugging Boomer the mascot.

Ernest was introduced to Cannon Ballers, who stand out in a crowd.

“He’s pretty big in person, isn’t he?” Wilt said, introducing Allred to outfielder George Wolkow, who’s 6-7.

“Yeah, he’s probably twice the size of me,” says Allred.

By pulling back the curtain on minor league baseball, he believes he can reach the next generation.

“I truly believe in the Lord, and I believe that he’s given me an incredible platform to impact people in a positive way,” Wilt says.

Allred has lots of time to think about whether he wants to be a hype man when he grows up.

“Probably, like when I’m a teenager,” he told Queen City News.