Baseball

Micah Yonamine had a pretty good idea it would either be the Philadelphia Phillies or the Arizona Diamondbacks if he heard his name called today in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. That made the emotional roller coaster for prospects listening to each name called a little easier, but when it was time for either of the two teams to make their picks, it got stressful real quick. “Every time (those picks) came up I made sure I was […]

After ‘Iolani’s Shane Sasaki was taken with the 99th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in the third round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday, six more players from Hawaii high schools or the University of Hawaii were selected on Day 3 of the draft. UPDATE: Sasaki says he’s agreed to deal with Rays with signing bonus of $475,000. >> The Minnesota Twins selected UH right-hander Dylan Thomas in the 13th round, No 389 overall. […]

Loyola Marymount senior Codie Paiva, a 2015 Kamehameha alumnus, was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 22nd round (No. 651 overall) of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday. The 6-foot-5 right-hander was named the West Coast Conference pitcher of the year this season. He finished the year 8-5 with a 1.91 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 103 2/3 innings. Paiva ended the season with back-to-back complete-game performances in wins over Gonzaga and Brigham Young and then […]

‘Iolani outfielder Shane Sasaki, a first-team Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State selection and runner-up in the state player of the year voting, was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the third round (No. 99 overall) of the 2019 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday. Sasaki’s .565 batting average was tops on the All-State first team and he added five homers with 26 RBIs and 26 runs scored. UPDATE: A jet-lagged Shane Sasaki says he expects to sign with Rays […]

Shane Sasaki came home for graduation on Saturday. He will return to the mainland as a professional baseball player. The Tampa Bay Rays selected the ‘Iolani center fielder in the third round, the 99th selection, of the 2019 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft today. The speedy senior came into the high school season rated as the No. 1 prospect in the islands. Then he measured up in every possible way on the field, and at the plate. “I’m speechless, […]

Tai Atkins didn’t want to leave his hometown. In Kapaau, life is slower, family is close by and, according to Atkins, there is nothing better. But prior to seventh grade, his family relocated to Mountain View, moving from one corner of the island to another. He grew there, attending Kamehameha-Hawaii, developing his talent on the baseball diamond. Atkins’ senior year saw a pinnacle, sparking his Warriors to the BIIF Division II title with an unbeaten record that included wins over […]