Kailua left-handed pitcher Joey Cantillo plans to play professional baseball and sign with the San Diego Padres, Hawaii Prep World learned via sources today.
The 6-foot-4, 200-pound former Surfriders star will sign within the next few days. He was chosen by the Padres in the 16th round of the Major League Baseball Draft, the 468th overall pick.
Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
If he hadn’t decided to go pro, Cantillo would be headed to the University of Kentucky with a scholarship.
Jeff Ellis, a senior columnist for Scout.com, wrote this about Cantillo after the draft: “A guy that also could be interesting is Joey Cantillo, a big projectable lefty from Hawaii. There is a lot to dream on for a player who won’t be 18 until December.”
Cantillo led Kailua to a second straight Oahu Interscholastic Association championship in the spring.
Cantillo will be the fourth player from this year’s draft who played high school baseball in Hawaii to sign with an MLB team.
One more player, former Punahou and Oregon State star KJ Harrison, is expected to sign. Harrison, a 6-2, 205-pound catcher, was drafted in the third round by Milwaukee, the 84th overall selection.
Former Hawaii high school players drafted in 2017 to sign with MLB teams
>> Ryley Widell (King Kekaulike/Central Arizona), RHP, 6-3, 180, with the Minnesota Twins (seventh round, pick No. 190)
>> Tanner Nishioka (‘Iolani/Pomona Pitzer), 2B, 5-11, 180, with the Boston Red Sox (ninth round, pick No. 281)
>> Joey Jarneski (Hilo), RHP, 6-0, 170 with the Texas Rangers (12th round, pick No. 374)
What happened to Kobe Russell from Waipahu H.S.? I thought he signed with Toronto Bluejays?