[ MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ]
Baseball draft
adds 10 with isle
ties on day 2Among those taken
in the final 30 rounds
are five UH recruits
Major League Baseball teams selected 10 more players with Hawaii ties yesterday, the second and final day of the First-Year Player Draft, bringing the two-day total to 16.
The first 10 rounds (21 through 30) yesterday saw five Hawaii Rainbow recruits selected, starting with Travis Denker, a second baseman from Brea Olinda High in Fullerton, Calif. He was taken in the 21st round, 631st overall, by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"The round was all right, but I was a little bit disappointed. It's all new and good and I have no idea what's going to happen. The Dodgers are supposed to call and set up a meeting in the next couple of days," Denker said.
Kala Ka'aihue was picked in the next round by the Boston Red Sox. The catcher from Iolani was the 654th pick.
The next player with a Hawaii tie who was selected was not a Rainbow recruit, but a Rainbow player. Junior center fielder Tim Montgomery was chosen by the Cleveland Indians in the 23rd round, 678th overall.
"It feels pretty good to be selected. It's a relief, a lot better than yesterday (Tuesday)," said Montgomery.
"My advisor had talked to the Indians before they picked me, so they had an idea of what I wanted. I'm leaning toward signing. I would like to get into pro ball and give it a shot. I think it's the best direction for me to take at this point. Yet, another year at Hawaii would be fun and I would have no regrets doing that."
Evan MacLane, a left-hander from Feather River Community College, was a 25th round selection, 739th overall, by the New York Mets.
"I'm happy and have been thinking real hard about what to do," said MacLane. "I've been talking to people about my decision and they have been telling me to go to school because the offer (from the Mets) wasn't that great."
Steven Wright, a right-hander from Valley View High in Moreno, Calif., was the 761st pick in the 26th round by the San Diego Padres.
"Really, right now, I don't know what I'm going to do. I'll just play with the cards I've been dealt with and see what's best for my future," said Wright.
The final UH recruit picked was Matthew Buck, a left-hander from Cactus Shadows High in Cave Creek, Ariz. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 30th round, 897th overall.
"It was just exciting to get drafted, but I'm leaning toward coming to Hawaii," said Buck, who will meet with a Montreal representative some time next week.
Once the 50th and final round was complete, UH coach Mike Trapasso knew who had and had not been selected. Montgomery may sign, but every other 2003 Rainbow with eligibility will be back.
"The draft validates the talent and quality of this recruiting class and it definitely tells us how much work we have left. This is not a finished product," said Trapasso.
"We have until the first day of classes Aug. 25 to keep working on keeping our recruits. We expect to lose some out of this class and may keep someone we didn't expect to. I've got plane reservations for next week to visit a couple of recruits' houses and see where we stand.
"If we can keep these guys, which we will be trying to do all summer, and develop them, then in three years we hope to turn a 25th-round pick into a fifth-round pick. I truly believe in the college experience and numbers put out by Major League Baseball say there are more college players in the majors than high school players."
Probably the most surprised person yesterday was Dane Awana, a left-hander from Waianae who attended Saddleback (Calif.) College in the fall, but had Tommy John surgery Jan. 10. The Seattle Mariners picked Awana in the 41st round, 1,226th overall.
"I never played baseball this year and wasn't expecting to be drafted," said Awana, who found out about his selection from the coach at Orange Coast College, where he will transfer to this fall.
"The rehab is going well. I've started some light throwing and hope to be ready next spring," said Awana.
Former UH left fielder Chad Boudon was picked in the 42nd round, 1,243th overall, by the Baltimore Orioles. Boudon transferred to Washington, where he set a single-season home run record with 21.
The final two Hawaii picks were by Kansas City. The Royals took Baldwin shortstop Gered Mochizuki in the 49th round, 1,433rd overall, and Mid-Pacific third baseman Kevin Whalen in the 50th round, 1,459th overall.
"We look at both of these players as being draft-and-follow," said Royals scout Eric Tokunaga.
There were 23 players drafted from Western Athletic Conference schools. Rice led the way with eight. Even if the Owls lose all eight draftees, they will still have their starting rotation returning next year.
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Draftees with
Players drafted yesterday, the second day of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft.
Hawaii connections
Player Pos School Round No. team Travis Denker 2b UH recruit 21st 631 Los Angeles Kala Ka'aihue c Iolani/UH rec. 22nd 654 Boston Tim Montgomery cf Hawaii 23rd 678 Cleveland Evan MacLane lhp UH recruit 25th 739 N.Y. Mets Steven Wright rhp UH recruit 26th 761 San Diego Matthew Buck lhp UH recruit 30th 897 Montreal Dane Awana lhp Saddleback 41st 1,226 Seattle Chad Boudon lf ex-Hawaii 42nd 1,243 Baltimore Gered Mochizuki ss Baldwin 49th 1,433 Kansas City Kevin Whalen 3b Mid-Pacific 50th 1,459 Kansas City
