Sunday, June 3, 2001
[ PRO BASEBALL DRAFT ]
Hawaii's best amateur baseball players
hope for affirmation of their skills
by being chosen this week
Komine on SHANE KOMINE is the top college prospect from Hawaii in this week's annual first-year player draft conducted by Major League Baseball.
MLB short list
The Kalani grad has every
tool except the one he
can't improveBy Al Chase
Star-BulletinThe 2001 draft starts Tuesday and runs through Thursday if all three days are needed to complete the 50 rounds.
Komine, a junior at the University of Nebraska, has rewritten the Cornhuskers' record book. He is poised, has great command of five pitches and strikes out almost four batters for every one he walks.
The Kalani High School graduate is a pitcher instead of a thrower. His fastball arrives at home plate traveling between 88 and 94 miles an hour and he throws a wicked slider. He has mastered the ability to change speeds.
If there is anything that will keep Komine from being a first-round selection, it's his height. Depending on the source, he is listed at 5-foot-9 or 5-10. In the world of professional baseball, he is known as a short right-hander.
Major league scouting directors like pitching prospects to be at least 6-feet, preferably taller. The trajectory of a taller pitcher is a little more intimidating to the batter.
He also has been bothered at However, if there is any question about his toughness, he answered that last year by pitching in the Super Regional at Stanford eight days after being hit in the face by a line drive.
There is no denying that Komine is an accomplished pitcher. His three-year 31-7 record, 386 career strikeouts, including 18 games with double-digit whiffs, and 14 complete games attest to that.
After Komine fired a three-hit, complete-game shutout at Rice on Friday, Owls head coach Wayne Graham said: "He moved his fastball all around the plate. He has a very rare touch. Ever since Shane was a freshman, I knew he was one of the top pitchers in the nation."
Here's a capsule look at Hawaii's other potential collegiate draft picks.
Jeff Coleman (Hawaii), 5-foot-10, 185-pounds, right-handed pitcher: Coleman says the time is right for him to try the professional game. He uses four pitches and throws in the high 80s. He was the Rainbows' most durable pitcher. In 1221/3 innings he struck out 97, walked 45 and finished with a 3.79 ERA while posting an 8-6 record. He and teammate Wakon Childers also fall into the short right-hander category, but both are extremely competitive on the mound.
Gregg Omori (Hawaii), 5-11, 185, infielder: He can play first or second base, hit for average and power. Omori has average speed which may eliminate consideration as a pro outfielder. The big question is the tendinitis in his right elbow and whether or not rest will cure it. The 'Bows offensive leader, he led the team in batting (.367), hits (84), doubles (25), home runs (11), runs batted in (62) and slugging percentage (.620).
Patrick Scalabrini (Hawaii), 6-1, 200, third baseman: He is solid defensively at the hot corner with a strong arm. Scalabrini has some power and can hit to all fields. Better than average speed helped him become a successful base stealer his senior year. He might not be that attractive to pro teams due to his age, 24.
Wakon Childers (Hawaii), 5-10, right-handed pitcher: He recovered from Tommy John surgery in 2000, only to develop a case of tendinitis in the right elbow toward the end of the 2000 season. This may cause pro teams to shy away. He has good velocity and a selection of pitches when he is healthy. Childers may be one of those players who gets an opportunity when a team is not able to sign enough drafted players to fill out a short-season roster.
Nate Jackson (Hawaii), 5-10, 185, center fielder: He has raw skills, excellent speed, fine defensive instincts and could switch hit if he focused strictly on baseball. Jackson's pro football potential is a question mark because of his size and he probably won't play baseball next spring when the NFL combines are held. If a pro baseball team is willing to take a chance now, he could play for six weeks or so, then return to the Warrior football program in August. It might be an interesting decision for the Waianae High School graduate.
Ryan Petersen (Hawaii-Hilo), 6-0, 190, right fielder: A two-year starter in right field, he was the Vulcans leading hitter this season with a .308 batting average. Petersen has above average speed, a good arm and can hit for average with line-drive power. Missed the final third of his senior year with a broken bone is his left wrist. He is rated the No. 4 pick in the Pacific Rim Region (Alaska and Hawaii) by Baseball America.
Brian Rooke (Hawaii-Hilo), 6-2, 207, center fielder: Rooke has good size and comes to play hard every day. He has above average speed and an adequate arm, but compensates for it by getting a good jump on balls hit his way. Strikeout to walk ratio not great, but has some power.
Anthony Bernal (Hawaii-Hilo), 6-2, 195, right-hander: Don't be fooled by his 0-11 record. Bernal throws in the high 80s consistently and can hit 90-91 at times. He uses a two-seam and four-seam fastball that moves and has a slider and change-up. A good competitor who had to be tough to survive with the Vulcans' 2001 season.
Bryce Uegawachi (Hawaii Pacific), 5-6, 155, shortstop: Started all 44 games for the Sea Warriors, hitting .358 with 10 doubles and 24 RBIs. Fielded .964, making just seven errors in 194 chances. Attracted scouts' attention at the Verizon Rainbow Easter Tournament with his flawless fielding (35 chances, no errors) and a solid plate performance, hitting .286. He makes uncanny plays with great reflexes. Rarely does a bad hop beat Uegawachi.
Kaulana Kuhaulua (Long Beach State), 6-0, 170, second baseman: The Waianae High School product was drafted twice while at Los Angeles City College, but decided to test himself against Division I pitching. Kuhaulua started all 58 games for the 49ers at second base, hit .232 with six doubles, two triples, one home run and 24 RBIs. Baseball America ranks Kuhaulua as the 49th best pick in the Southern California Region.
Reid Santos (Saddleback College), 6-1, 160, left-handed pitcher: The Castle High School graduate posted a 6-3 record for the Gauchos. He was drafted in the 23rd round by Montreal last year but declined to sign after receiving a small money offer. He fanned 52, walked 17 and posted a 3.19 ERA in 672/3 innings this past season.
Rex Rundgren (Sacramento City College), 6-1, 170, shortstop: Selected in the 24th round after graduating from Mid-Pacific Institute in 1999, but did not come to terms with the Boston Red Sox. He has excellent range, a strong arm and is a great glove man. Rundgren does not hit for average, but he can make up for it with solid defense.
Jonah Martin (Arizona State), 5-9, 175, outfielder: An aggressive player who set the ASU record for getting hit by 29 pitches his junior season. Martin hit .325 and .330 during his two years at ASU. A contact hitter with a good strikeout to walk ratio, he was successful on 29 of 37 stolen base attempts. He graduated from Kamehameha.