Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

Saturday, June 10, 2000

Chaves, Suraci sign
pro contracts

The Hawaii Professional
Baseball Report

By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

Brandon Chaves and Scott Suraci, the only players drafted from Hawaii's collegiate programs this year, joined the professional ranks yesterday.

Chaves signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates last night. He was selected in the 10th round of the 2000 draft, 299th overall.

The 6-foot-3 shortstop from Hawaii-Hilo will play for Wil-liamsport, Pa., in the short-season Class A New York-Penn League.

He gave up his last two years of college eligibility to turn pro.

"The farthest east I've ever been is Texas, with the Vulcans this past season," said Chaves.

Suraci signed with the Minnesota Twins, passing on his senior year at Hawaii Pacific University. He was chosen in the 40th round, 1182 overall.

"I'm going to move on and go with the Twins," the 6-4 outfielder said from his Arizona home. "There wasn't a signing bonus, but they gave me incentive plans that look pretty good. Plus, my age (22), I'm considered a senior because I redshirted a year.

"To go pro now would be the better opportunity."

Chaves received a complete financial package including a signing bonus, money to complete his education and an incentive plan with bonus money for each step he climbs in the Pirates organization.

He is the fourth Vulcan and third Hilo High School graduate to be drafted.

"I signed and it feels good," said Chaves who did admit to some apprehension because "it's going to be far away and I'm going to be on my own. But, I think I'll be fine. I'll be playing seven days a week. I'll be occupied."

The Cincinnati Reds have sent the standard package of information to their No. 2 pick, catcher Dane Sardinha.

"I'd much rather not discuss our contract negotiations or the process at this stage," said Reds scouting director DeJon Watson.

"There isn't going to be anything done immediately. As these things go, we've a lot of work to do and that will happen," said agent Scott Boras, who is advising Sardinha.

Kaulana Kuhaulua, who has completed his two years at Los Angeles City College, has turned down St. Louis to return to school.

The 6-1 shortstop, a 17th round pick by the Cardinals, will enroll at Long Beach State this fall.

Kuhaulua feels it will be to his advantage to prove himself at a high level. "You don't get that much respect coming out of a junior college," he said.

Williams wins:

Waipahu High graduate Jerome Williams evened his record to 2-2 last night in San Jose's 3-2 win over California League-leading Modesto (Class A).

Williams scattered three hits over six innings, striking out six and giving up one run.

---

The Hawaii Professional Baseball Report

Players with Hawaii connections who, through Thursday's games, qualify for inclusion in the weekly statistics compiled by Howe Sportsdata International:

Batter

	Team	League	Cl	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	AVG
Kenn Wakakuwa	Charlstn, SC	South Atlantic	A	4	1	2	0	0	.500
Key Voshell	Richmond	Frontier	Ind	34	7	13	0	6	.382
Benny Agbayani	N.Y. Mets	National	ML	84	10	23	1	12	.274
Chris Truby	New Orleans	Pacific Coast	AAA	244	27	66	2	28	.270
Keith Luuloa	Edmonton	Pacific Coast	AAA	132	17	31	3	16	.235
Darren Blakely	Erie	Eastern	AA	191	28	44	8	25	.230
Chad Santos	Charlstn, WV	South Atlantic	A	166	14	34	3	16	.204
Jason Ross	Greenville	Southern	AA	11	1	2	0	0	.182

Pitcher

	Team	League	Cl	IP	H	BB	SO	W-L	ERA
Jeff Martin	Lynchburg	Carolina	A	6-2/3	2	1	5	0-0	0.00
Mike Fetters	Los Angeles	National	ML	14-1/3	9	8	11	2-0	1.88
Tyler Yates	Modesto	California	A	42-1/3	33	17	45	3-1	2.55
Corey Miller	Visalia	California	A	18-1/3	16	10	30	2-1	3.44
Mike McCutcheon	South Bend	Midwest	A	57-2/3	62	20	37	2-6	3.90
Jerome Williams	San Jose	California	A	34-2/3	22	18	32	1-2	4.15
Fletcher Lee	Yuma	Western	Ind	2	3	1	1	0-0	4.50
Jay Spurgeon	Frederick	Carolina	A	67	61	20	65	7-1	4.70
Dusty Bergman	Cedar Rapids	Midwest	A	65	80	26	36	0-7	5.40
Mark Johnson	Detroit	American	ML	22	21	14	10	0-1	5.73
Onan Masaoka	Los Angeles	National	ML	7-2/3	11	2	6	0-0	5.87
Paul Ah Yat	Nashville	Pacific Coast	AAA	6	6	3	2	0-0	6.00
Scott Karl	Colorado	National	ML	43-2/3	64	20	21	1-2	7.01
Matt Wheeler	Evansville	Frontier	Ind	2/3	6	3	0	0-0	94.50

Notes:

Paul Ah Yat (Hawaii) made his 2000 debut last Saturday with two innings of relief. He broke his left thumb (pitching hand) when he slipped on wet grass running sprints during spring training.

Jason Ross (Hawaii) made his 2000 debut with Greenville (SC) in the Class AA Southern League this week after rehabilitating the injured index finger on his right hand.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have send right-hander Jeff Martin (Kailua) to Lynchburg (Va.) of the Class A Carolina League from Altoona (Pa.) of the Class AA Eastern League.

Fletcher Lee (Kaiser, Lewis-Clark State) was released by the San Francisco Giants from their Bakersfield (California League) farm team, May 13. Lee signed with the Yuma (Ariz.) Bullfrogs of the independent Western League, Tuesday.

Eric Bentley (Hawaii Pacific), bothered by a sore right elbow, announced his retirement Wednesday, after two appearances with the Chillicothe Paints of the independent Frontier League.

Kaipo Spenser (St. Anthony, Arizona State) has been released by the Cleveland Indians. Spenser signed with the Valley Vipers (Scottsdale, Ariz.) in the independent Western League, Thursday.