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Friday, May 26, 2000
Wayne storms
into regionals
Sights set on big leaguesStanford star pitcher is
By Wes Nakama
projected to be a high first-
round pick in next
month's draft
Special to the Star-BulletinSTANFORD, Calif. -- Justin Wayne bookmarked the Star-Bulletin Web site on his computer last week, making it quicker to get updates on the Hawaii High School Athletic Association baseball tournament.
He was eager to find out how Iolani, with his brother Ethan pitching for the Raiders, was faring. Ethan beat Waiakea in the quarterfinals, but Iolani lost to eventual champion Molokai in the semifinals.
"Molokai beat Kamehameha in the final, similar to the way they beat Iolani," Justin explained. "They got down a few runs, but came back to win."
This weekend, Justin focuses on his own tournament, which is a slightly bigger event. He is Stanford's starting pitcher in tomorrow's NCAA Regional second-round game at the Cardinal's plush 4,000-seat Sunken Diamond.
The Cardinal open up tournament play today against Fresno State.
It won't be the first big game the junior right-hander from Waialae Nui has pitched in this season. Stanford lost preseason All-American Jason Young to a tender right (pitching) shoulder for a few weeks early into the schedule, temporarily forcing Wayne into the role as the No. 1 starter.
Wayne responded with a 12-3 record and 3.02 earned run average, and he was recently named Pac-10 Co-Pitcher of the Year and first-team All-American honors from Baseball Weekly. He also is projected to go high in the first round of major league baseball's amateur draft next month, perhaps as high as fourth or fifth overall.
"We put more on his shoulders and he had to carry a heavier load, but he did a fantastic job for us," Stanford coach Mark Marquess said. "He just had a phenomenal year."
Wayne, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound right-hander, has answered every call since arriving on the Farm in 1997 from Punahou. He went 6-0 with a team-leading six saves in 25 relief appearances his first year and was named first-team Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball.
"When he came here, I asked Justin to pitch relief for us, and he had never pitched relief in his life," Marquess said. "But he did it all year, and did it well."
As a sophomore, Wayne was promoted to No. 2 starter and responded with a 10-1 season, striking out 135 batters in 118 innings.
And this year, Wayne tied for sixth in the nation in wins and struck out 128 in 113 innings, against only 28 walks.
"I've never asked a pitcher to do so many things for us," Marquess said. "He's gone from short relief to stopper, to starter. He's stepped it up big for us."
Wayne is focused on getting the Cardinal back to Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb., site of the College World Series. But he acknowledged that the closer it gets to draft day (June 5), the harder it is to stop thinking about it.
"It's been a lot of stress," Wayne said. "I've got my hands full with school and the postseason, but (the draft) is also an important part of my life. I mean, that's my future. And you don't get too many opportunities to play pro ball."
Wayne had an opportunity three years ago, when the Boston Red Sox selected him in the ninth round. He turned them down to attend Stanford, a decision he does not regret.
"Back then, I didn't really know what was out there, and Stanford was going to teach me that," Wayne said. "And it has. I've had a lot of fun and gained a lot of experience on and off the field. It's been a tremendous three years."
The best part for Wayne is that the future looks even brighter. Scouts now are comparing him to Baltimore Orioles ace and former Cardinal All-American Mike Mussina. Wayne's fastball has been clocked at 89-91 mph, but he also has great command of his curve, slider and change-up.
He said the Kansas City Royals, picking fourth, and the Montreal Expos, with the fifth pick, have shown strong interest. Wayne said this time, he will sign.
"I'm ready," he said.
Marquess, in his 24th season at Stanford, agrees.
"(Mussina) might have thrown a little harder, but at this stage I think Justin has more command of his off-speed pitches than Mike did," Marquess said. "He has good control, and he can probably make it to the majors quickly. That's what (scouts) like so much about him."
Wayne's older brother, Hawkeye (Iolani 1995), was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 11th round last June and is playing in their farm system.
Justin Wayne said his own success is largely the result of the support he got from family and friends in Hawaii. If he has a regret, it's that he missed seeing some of those people on the short trips he's made home the past three years.
"There's a lot of people who I really have to make an effort to go see and say hi to the next time I go back," Wayne said. "Everybody -- coaches, teachers -- helped me so much. I have a lot of aloha for them."
Wes Nakama, who worked for newspapers in Hawaii
from 1988-96, is now a sportswriter at the
Contra Costa Times in Walnut Creek, Calif.
