Medeiros will attend MLB draft

Waiakea’s Kodi Medeiros confirmed Friday that he will be attending the 2014 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Thursday, June 5, in Secaucus, N.J.

The left-hander is projected as a first-round draft pick and would become the third player drafted in the first round straight out of high school from Hawaii, joining Waipahu’s Jerome Williams (No. 39 overall) in 1999 and Kamehameha’s Bronson Sardinha (No. 34 overall) in 2001.

Punahou graduate Justin Wayne is the highest draft pick ever from Hawaii. He was selected fifth overall out of Stanford by the Montreal Expos in 2000.

The only first rounder from the Big Island is Kamehameha-Hawaii alum Kolten Wong, who went No. 22 in the 2011 draft after his junior season at the University of Hawaii.

According to various mock drafts online, Medeiros seems to be a favorite of the Kansas City Royals, who own both the No. 17 and No. 28 picks. The slot value of the 28th pick is a cool $1,815,500 while the No. 17 selection garners a value of $2,200,600. Those aren’t necessarily the exact amounts a player signs for if taken at that spot but is a general guideline of what a player is valued at that pick.

Medeiros last pitched a week ago in the state tournament, losing 2-0 to Saint Louis. He threw 123 pitches in seven innings, allowing five hits and three walks with eight strikeouts. He showed a nasty slider to go along with a fastball that scouts who we talked to had him maxing out at 94 MPH. There are other reports online saying he hit as high as 96 on some guns.

The first two rounds (74 picks) of the draft will be shown live on June 5 on the MLB network. Rounds 3-10 will be on Friday with rounds 11-40 taking place on Saturday.

Saint Louis right-hander Jordan Yamamoto could hear his name called on Friday, especially after his performance last Wednesday in out dueling Medeiros. Yamamoto threw a two-hit shutout with nine strikeouts, flashing both a top-notch slider and a wicked changeup to go with a fastball topping out at 92.

Yamamoto, who was named the ILH player of the year, is committed to Arizona, but will have a big choice to make over the summer, especially if he’s taken on Day 2.

Yamamoto is regarded as the No. 2 pitching prospect in the state and No. 3 overall, behind Medeiros and Punahou catcher KJ Harrison. Harrison, who committed to Oregon State as a sophomore, is listed as the No. 134 overall draft prospect by Baseball America.

Other high schoolers who will have an eye on the draft in two weeks are Hilo outfielder Jodd Carter, Kamehameha-Hawaii catcher Makoa Rosario, ‘Iolani infielder Christian Donahue and Saint Louis outfielder Devan Stubblefield.