Local baseball prospects solid in debut seasons

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i's highest baseball draft picks in June made good impressions in their first pro seasons.

Kamehameha graduate Bronson Sardinha and St. Louis graduate Brandon League were rated among the top prospects in their respective leagues by Baseball America.

Sardinha, the 34th overall pick by the New York Yankees, is ranked third among the top 20 prospects from the rookie Gulf Coast League in Florida. The three-time Advertiser all-state infielder is the highest Hawai'i draft pick out of high school.

"There are a lot of good players in the organization," Sardinha said. "So it's surprising, actually."

League, a three-time all-state pitcher, is ranked fourth among the top 20 from the advanced rookie Pioneer League. League was a second-round selection (59th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays. He played at Medicine Hat (Alberta, Canada). He reported for instructional league last week.

Sardinha returned from Florida last week. After the GCL season, he was promoted to high-A Tampa (Fla.), which was in the playoffs.

"They just wanted me to watch them," he said. "They'll put me there next year."

He had planned to stay in Florida for the instructional league, but said the Yankees canceled the session because of logistical problems of getting players to Florida because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

He said he has been invited to a January workout with the big leaguers. He said he was told the Yankees usually invite six prospects to the workout.

"I think I'll be in awe just watching everyone," he said.

According to Baseball America's report on the GCL prospects, Sardinha "was the best hitting prospect in the league."

Although he played shortstop in the GCL — and was named to its all-star team after the season — Sardinha said he has been told he might be moved to third base or the outfield.

"I don't mind," he said. "As long as I'm playing. They're excited about my bat right now."

Sardinha batted .303 with 14 doubles, three triples and four home runs. He had a .398 on-base percentage and stole 11 of 13 bases.

League also drew high praise by Baseball America. It said his fastball reached as high as 98 mph and was consistently around 93-95.

"He's going to be an outstanding pitcher, a potential top-of-the-rotation guy," said P.J. Carey, manager of the Casper (Wyo.) club in the Pioneer League.

League was 2-2 with a 4.66 earned run average in nine starts. He had 38 strikeouts and 11 walks in 38 1/3 innings.