Komine top Four Hawaii college players from mainland schools and one Hawaii Rainbow junior college recruit were selected on the first day of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft yesterday.
local draftee
The Kalani graduate goes to the
A's in the ninth round of draftBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comShane Komine was picked in the ninth round by the Oakland Athletics, followed by UH recruit Justin Azze in the 10th round by Montreal, Kainoa Obrey of Brigham Young in the 11th by Kansas City, Reid Santos of Saddleback Community College in the 13th by Cleveland and Duke Sardinha of Pepperdine in the 19th by Colorado.
Twenty-two rounds were completed yesterday, with the final 28 on tap today.
The first local high school recruit to be selected was Iolani School's Kila Ka'aihue in the 15th round by the Kansas City Royals.
Today, Waianae pitcher Dane Awana was picked by the Seattle Mariners in the 32nd round and Molokai pitcher Keahi Rawlins was taken in the 36th by the Philadelphia Phillies.
If there was one common reaction among the players selected yesterday it was surprise at the round they were picked.
Komine, a senior right-hander for NCAA Tournament Super Regional participant Nebraska, had minor surgery in September to clean some scar tissue and bone chips out of the right shoulder joint. It took time for him to rejoin the Cornhuskers starting rotation.
"I'm really excited just because I wasn't expecting to go in the ninth round because of the surgery and my health history," Komine said. "I felt great against Marist (last Saturday) and that's only been recently.
"I knew that if I came and got hurt I'd be taking a chance, but I've had a lot of fun here and I have no regrets about coming back. We are peaking at the right time and things are going pretty good for us."
The Kalani High School graduate won't be able to discuss a deal with Oakland until the Nebraska season ends, but he does have an advisor from the Beverly Hills Sports Council.
"It takes some weight off my shoulders. I have waited the whole year for today. I couldn't have asked for anything more," said Komine, who doesn't expect any problems signing a pro contract. "I will negotiate after the season is over, but I am looking forward to playing for the Oakland organization."
Komine gained 10 rounds in the draft, having been selected in the 19th round by St. Louis a year ago.
Azze, who posted a 9-5 record for Orange Coast College after signing with the Rainbows last November, said it was pretty wild around his house yesterday.
"I was told I could go anywhere from the fifth to 10th round. I was looking for something better, but being drafted inside the 10th round is pretty big," said Azze who will play for the Alaska Goldpanners in Fairbanks if he does not sign.
"I think that's a pretty solid pick. We thought going in he was capable of going anywhere from the 6th to the 12th round," said UH coach Mike Trapasso.
"Obviously he will talk to the Expos and go through that process, but my job is to try to convince him with another year of college and a couple of minor adjustments we can get him up in to the top five rounds."
Obrey had outstanding freshman and sophomore seasons at Brigham Young, but only played 10 games for the Cougars this year due to a slightly herniated disk in his lower back. He hit .242 with eight runs batted in, but after BYU's visit to Murakami Stadium in February, the 6-2, 225-pound third baseman rested and rehabbed the remainder of the year.
"The Royals called me before it all started this morning and I wasn't home. Then we were listening on the Internet and a minute or two after we heard my name called, one of my scouts called.
Obrey's initial reaction was one of surprise, yet elation, first at being drafted, then at the round he was chosen. He knew not playing this spring might work against him when he elected rehabilitation over surgery to correct his back problem.
"I did a lot of exercise every day and actually began feeling better at the beginning of April. I started doing some really light baseball stuff and started swinging and fielding in May."
That's when a Royals' scout dropped by to watch the Cougars practice and saw Obrey working out. He was impressed enough that he invited Obrey to another workout in California on his trip home to Hawaii.
Brigham Young also is applying to the NCAA to get Obrey a medical hardship redshirt year to restore the year of eligibility lost this past spring. This gives Obrey a choice.
Draftees with local ties
Name, school Position Team Round Pick Shane Komine, Nebraska/Kalani RHP Oakland Athletics 9 278 Kainoa Obrey, Brigham Young/Iolani 3B Kansas City Royals 11 318 Reid Santos, Saddleback CC/Castle LHP Cleveland Indians 13 394 Kila Ka'aihue, Iolani 1B Kansas City Royals 15 438 Duke Sardinha, Pepperdine/Kamehameha 3B Colorado Rockies 19 561 Dane Awana, Waianae LHP Seattle Mariners 32 970 Keahi Rawlins, Molokai RHP Philadelphia Phillies 36 1,079 University of Hawaii recruit
Name, school Position Team Round Pick Justin Azze, Orange Coast CC RHP Montreal Expos 10 287
"I would like to go on and play, but we're just going to wait and see what happens," he said.
Santos, a left-handed pitcher from Castle High School and Saddleback Community College, had Tommy John surgery last May and redshirted this year.
"I woke up and there was a call on my telephone. It was a complete shock. I had no indication what so ever I would be drafted," said Santos.
He was drafted in 2000 in the 23rd round and last year in the 42nd round by Texas, but yesterday's section caught Santos completely off guard.
"I've been throwing for about two months and planned to play summer ball in the Oahu League," Santos said. "The arm is feeling real good right now and after today, it's feeling a lot better."
Sardinha also moved up considerably in the draft after the Rockies made him a 41st round pick a year ago when he was coming off two injuries.
This past season at Pepperdine, due to injuries to teammates, the Kamehameha graduate played third base, second base and right field.
"We were expecting in the top 10 or top 15 rounds," Sardinha said. "After the 10th round a couple of teams called and asked about my signability, whether or not I was going back to school. I had a full college year and I'm ready to play (for money) but it all depends on what the Rockies come up with for an offer."
Sardinha and the Rockies negotiated all last summer right up to the first day of fall classes at Pepperdine, but couldn't come to agreement. Sardinha said the final offer then was seventh round money or about $100,000.
None of the teams have yet to set negotiating meetings with the players.
Ka'aihue was the only local high school player taken in the 22 rounds completed on the draft's first day.
The left-handed hitting first baseman spent an anxious morning next to the phone before being selected by the Kansas City Royals with the 438th pick of the draft.
Ka'aihue received a call from the Royals during the seventh round, raising his hopes for an early selection. He waited around for about an hour before the Royals called back to tell him he had been picked.
"It felt good to get drafted, it was just disappointing it wasn't higher," said Ka'aihue, whose name was finally called at about 10:15 a.m.
Ka'aihue said negotiations with the Royals will begin today. He said a Royals representative told him he could receive a contract offer comparable to that of a seventh-round pick.
If the offer doesn't come through, Ka'aihue might be headed for Nebraska where he would replace Komine as the Cornhuskers' Hawaii connection. He signed a letter of intent with Nebraska last November.
"Right now I'm probably leaning toward Nebraska," Ka'aihue said. "If the money is all right, I might consider signing, but right now I'm probably going to school."
If he signs with the Royals, Ka'aihue could be reunited with Obrey. They would join Kahi Kaanoi (Kamehameha, 2000) and Chad Santos (St. Louis, 1999) in the Royals organization. Kaanoi plays for Class A Burlington and Santos is with Class A Wilmington.
"I'm proud of myself, proud of what I've done," Ka'aihue said. "Not too many people can say they've been drafted. I know it's a good opportunity. I feel I'm ready to play if we reach an agreement.
"But Nebraska has been a real good program and it's not like a consolation prize by any means. I'd love to go to Nebraska and play. It's not a full let down. It's just a win-win situation for me."
Yesterday's session marked the first time since 1998 that a Hawaii high school player wasn't drafted in the first seven rounds.
Star-Bulletin reporter Jason Kaneshiro
contributed to this report.