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Wednesday, August 2, 2000
Sometimes reality fails to equal the dream a young player holds entering professional baseball. Wakakuwa decides
to retire
By Al Chase
Star-BulletinKenn Wakakuwa wore three different pro uniforms in a little over a month and didn't get to play on a regular basis.
He injured his left shoulder diving for a ball at second base in his first game for the Charleston, S.C., RiverDogs in the South Atlantic League. It was the same shoulder he hurt in similar fashion during his senior year with the University of Hawaii.
After that one game and rehab, he was sent to the St. Petersburg Devil Rays in the Florida State League. After two games in two weeks, he was sent to the Hudson Valley Renegades in the New York-Penn League.
"Everywhere I went, I was behind two other guys," Wakakuwa said. "It made me lose interest in going out there every day. I got tired. I realized I didn't want to be there. I realized I didn't want to make a career of it."
He talked with Hudson Valley manager Dave Silvestri and Tampa Bay farm director Tom Foley. They convinced him to stick around for another week to see if he changed his mind. He didn't and the 5-foot-10, 175-pound infielder retired.
"Even though I didn't want to be there, I tried. I finally decided I was wasting everyone's time," said Wakakuwa, who was signed by the Devil Rays as a non-drafted free agent in late May.
"There were guys there who wanted to be there. I talked with everyone I had to talk to. I left on good terms.
"I'm back here. I'm fine. I made sure I would have no regrets."
Wakakuwa plans to continue his education at Honolulu Community College and study architectural drafting. He plans to graduate in two years.
"It's better coming back now, than trying to do it when I'm 28," Wakakuwa said.