By: Josh Stevens SFCBL Beat Writer

They say that everything is bigger in Texas. The trucks are bigger, the food portions are bigger, and even the stadiums are bigger. This saying couldn’t be more true for Palm Beach Xtreme outfielder Aijalon Knowles, who’s personality is big enough to fill the entire stadium.

When the Xtreme coaching staff was asked who the best player to do a feature on was, the answer was just about unanimous. The player with the most gravitating personality and flash. “Plus”, said Xtreme Manager Jack Steinberg, “Knowles is flat out raking to start the season.”

Saying that Knowles is just “raking” might be an understatement to describe the start for Knowles, who will be a senior at NAIA Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

Although it is just one week into the season, Knowles can be found near the top of almost every statistical category so far for the SFCBL. This includes average (.666, starting 8/12 on the season), runs (seven) and stolen bases (seven).

Just how good has Knowles been to start the 2023 summer? He didn’t make an out until his 4th game, and he had already scored five runs before recording his first out on the season.

When watching Knowles, it’s easy to see why he has been so successful. He doesn’t just hit from both sides of the plate, but drives the ball to all fields from each batter’s box. He then uses his speed to wreak havoc on the bases, and is right in the middle of just about every Xtreme rally.

Despite the success that Knowles has had so far in the SFCBL, his baseball career hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. Knowles spent three years at West Side High in Texas before transferring to Pearland before his senior year.

While Knowles wasn’t the biggest recruit out of high school, he was still able to get an offer from D1 Florida Gulf Coast University. However, FGCU unfortunately was not a sticking spot for Knowles. By 2020, he found himself at Ranger college, and Luna Community College by 2022 before transferring to his current spot at Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

Despite bouncing around during his collegiate career, Knowles has stayed nothing but positive. “I’m just grateful for the opportunities to play college baseball” he exclaimed. “Oklahoma Wesleyan is a great school and I’m grateful to be playing there.”

With one year left of college baseball, the 24 year old outfielder is hoping to ride the momentum from his 2023 stint in the SFCBL (his first in the league) into the school year.

For the time being however, Knowles is really enjoying being in the SFCBL. “Our jersey says Xtreme, but I like to just call it X because we have that X factor” exclaimed Knowles. “If someone strikes out or makes an error, we’re right there to pick them up”.

Despite the Xtreme’s blowout 14-1 loss at the hands of the Boca Raton Blazers Thursday night, Knowles was able to show that he was a force to be reckoned in every facet of the game. While it was Knowles’s first game without a hit, he still put up good at bats.

On the defensive side, he made a play that is already a candidate for play of the year, as he made a diving catch to save 2 runs in center field, before getting up and firing the ball to second to compete the double play.

“I saw the ball was hit way in front of me and I just knew I had to go and make the play” exclaimed Knowles. “I had to do whatever I could to help the team.”

Knowles isn’t too worried about the loss, bringing his same upbeat attitude towards the rest of the season. “Today was a tough game, but it’s all about how we bounce back tomorrow now.” Resilience is the name of the game with Xtreme superstar Aijalon (AJ) Knowles.