MLB.com’s Jim Callis was the first to report that recent Campbell High graduate Ian Kahaloa signed a professional contract with the Cincinnati Reds earlier this week that included a signing bonus of $300,000.
Slot value for the No. 145 overall pick was listed at $369,400. Callis also wrote on Twitter that Kahaloa had agreed to a deal for $400,000 before a physical raised concerns about his elbow.
Kahaloa originally agreed to over-sized $400k but postdraft physical raised concerns about his elbow. @MLBDraft @Reds
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) June 25, 2015
Kahaloa made headlines with his incredible 10-inning, 15-strikeout performance in a 2-1 win over Kamehameha in the semifinals of the state tournament in May, but threw 138 pitches, which received some negative feedback, including from ESPN’s Keith Law, who called it “unbelievable.”
Entering Day 2 of the MLB Draft, Kahaloa had been in talks with the Boston Red Sox about possibly getting selected No. 81 overall with a slot value of $742,400, but that never materialized after news of it broke on Twitter the night before.
Kahaloa is listed on the roster of the AZL Reds in the Arizona (Rookie) League.
Saint Louis alum Ka‘ai Tom, who was drafted nine picks after Kahaloa by the Cleveland Indians, received a signing bonus of $250,000.
Tom has played in three games with Mahoning Valley in the Class A – Short Season New York-Penn League and is hitting .182 (2-for-11) with a double, three walks and two RBIs.
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