Tuesday, June 5, 2001

[ MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ]

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Sardinha gets
call from Yanks

The former shortstop at
Kamehameha is the
34th overall pick;
Brandon League 59th

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By Jason Kaneshiro
Star-Bulletin

Bronson Sardinha got the best wake up call of his life this morning when his parents stirred him out of bed to tell him he was selected by the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft.

The former Kamehameha shortstop was still asleep when news of his selection broke at 7:30.

"My brothers and parents were listening to it on the Internet," Sardinha said.

"So they came running in waking me up and everything and the Yankees called right after that."

Sardinha was the first Hawaii player selected in the draft. Former St. Louis pitcher Brandon League was taken by the Toronto Blue Jays in the second round with the 59th pick overall.

The Yankees picked Sardinha with the 34th overall pick during the draft's first "sandwich" round, a series of compensation picks between the first and second rounds. The Yankees used the pick awarded to them when they lost Denny Neagle to free agency.

"I was very surprised," he said. "I didn't think I was going to go that high."

Sardinha expects to be assigned to the Yankees' rookie league camp in Tampa, Fla. He said the Yankees called him Monday night to discuss possible signing terms, which could include a signing bonus of $3 million and money for schooling.

"I'm going to sign definitely," Sardinha said. "I know it's not going to be less than what I want, maybe I can get more. But right now I'm happy, I'm ready to go."

Sardinha said he will hire an agent in the coming days. His parents, Dexter and Darneen, have been handling his baseball future to this point. His brother, Dane, was taken in the second round last year and is now playing in the Cincinnati Reds organization.

Sardinha said he would spend the rest of the day working out, and later plans to celebrate with dinner with family and friends. But he's not quite ready to pick up the tab just yet.

"They'll buy for me," he said. "I'll buy for them in a little while."