HAWAII GROWN: ‘Iolani’s Nishioka up to Double-A

Tanner Nishioka, an ‘Iolani alumnus who was a ninth-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox out of Pomona-Pitzer last season, was called up to Double-A Portland today.

Nishioka is getting the start at designated hitter and batting seventh for the Sea Dogs tonight against Akron.

In 43 at-bats with Class A Greenville this season, Nishioka hit .372 with eight doubles, a triple and seven runs scored.

He is one of 16 players who went to high school in Hawaii currently in the MLB system with more on the way after this week’s draft.

Four players who prepped in Hawaii were selected in the 2018 draft, including Hilo’s Micah Bello, who was the 73rd overall selection taken by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Atlanta catcher Kurt Suzuki (Baldwin), Texas utility player Isiah Kiner-Falefa (Mid-Pacific), St. Louis second baseman Kolten Wong (Kamehameha-Hawaii) and San Diego reliever Kirby Yates (Kauai) are all currently on major league teams.

Waiakea alumnus Kean Wong is currently batting .306 as an every-day starter for Triple-A Durham in the Rays’ farm system. Wong had four multi-hit games in a six-day span last week and is ninth entering Saturday in the International League in batting average as he makes his case for a call-up to the bigs.

Hawaii high schoolers in the MLB system:

MAJOR LEAGUE
Kurt Suzuki, Atlanta Braves (Baldwin)
Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Texas (Mid-Pacific)
Kolten Wong, St. Louis, (KS-Hawaii)
Kirby Yates, San Diego (Kauai)

CLASS AAA
Kean Wong, Durham (Rays), (Waiakea)

CLASS AA
Ka’ai Tom, Akron (Indians), (Saint Louis)
Chace Numata, Trenton (Yankees), (Pearl City)
Tanner Nishioka, Portland (Red Sox), (‘Iolani)
Quintin Torres-Costa, Biloxi (Brewers) (Waiakea)
Kodi Medeiros, Biloxi (Brewers), (Waiakea)

CLASS A — ADVANCED
Jodd Carter, Lynchburg (Indians), (Hilo)
Mark Karaviotis, Visalia (Diamondbacks), (Maui)
Jordan Yamamoto, Jupiter (Marlins), (Saint Louis)
Rico Garcia, Lancaster (Rockies), (Saint Louis)

CLASS A
Christian Donahue, South Bend (Cubs), (‘Iolani)
KJ Harrison, Wisconsin (Brewers), (Punahou)

For a full report on all baseball players with Hawaii ties currently playing in the MLB system, including season statistics, check out Page C7 in Sunday’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser.