Komine still hurting from off-season surgery
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Confidence allowed a 5-foot-10, 175-pound pitcher from Hawai'i to earn All-America status twice in three years.
Advertiser library photo
It is that same confidence that Nebraska pitcher Shane Komine (Kalani '98) exuded by declining about a $50,000 signing bonus from the St. Louis Cardinals, who drafted him in the 19th round in last June's first-year player draft. Instead, he will return for his fourth and final season with the Cornhuskers.
Pitcher Shane Komine has a chance to add to his record-setting career at Nebraska.
Komine is aware that college seniors lose leverage in negotiations because it's the end of the line for their amateur status. For example, in the 2000 draft, a college junior or junior college player averaged a $48,500 bonus in the 10th round; a college senior in the same round averaged $7,875, according to a Web site called Prospect Watch.
But the right-hander who owns a number of career pitching records at Nebraska stuck to his convictions. He had indicated to teams that he wanted to be drafted within the first 10 rounds; but he knew they knew of a back injury he has had since he was a youth and that might have influenced their decision in the draft.
The Cardinals were willing to offer a bonus worth more than the average 19th rounder (four figures), but it was still shy of Komine's request in the $100,000 range.
"The draft is something that just happens," Komine said. "To me, being drafted is out of the player's control."
Still, he remains confident he can perform well enough to improve his draft status.
"I'm keeping my hopes up," he said.
With the draft behind him, he is now focusing on helping the Cornhuskers return to the College World Series. They are eighth in Baseball America's preseason rankings.
"This year, we should be real good," said Komine, who will return to school this weekend. "We have a lot more depth and the new guys coming in will help."
Meanwhile, Komine is recovering from arthroscopic surgery he had in late September on his right shoulder. He said the injury in his acromioclavicular joint occurred sometime last season. "The cartilage was worn away and it had to be cleaned out," he said.
He has been able to throw during the winter break, but added, "There's still some soreness there right now."
Komine said he has enjoyed his stay at Nebraska. He is about three semesters shy of earning a degree in sociology.
Komine has become one of the most popular players at Nebraska, as have other Hawai'i athletes such as football All-America lineman Toniu Fonoti and former All-America center Dominic Raiola (now of the Detroit Lions), according to a Nebraska assistant sports information director Shamus McKnight. For the third consecutive year, Komine is on the cover of the Cornhuskers' pocket schedule, which is distributed around the state.
"It's a good feeling to be recognized," Komine said of the publicity.
Notes: Komine played host to Iolani recruit Kila Ka'aihue during the fall. Ka'aihue, a first baseman and two-time Advertiser all-state selection, signed with the Cornhuskers in November. "It looks like he will help the program," Komine said of Ka'aihue, who is considered a pro prospect.
