2 recruits pick UH over turning pro
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
With the University of Hawai'i open for classes yesterday, baseball coach Mike Trapasso can breathe a sigh of relief knowing most of his recruits are officially Rainbows.
Among the prize recruits are freshman pitchers Steven Wright, Matthew Buck, Kaimi Mead (Roosevelt) and Jonathan Serapion (Pearl City), as well as junior college transfer Mark Rodrigues (Los Medanos JC via Kaua'i High).
Wright and Buck are two of six UH recruits who were drafted in June. Wright, a right-hander, an all-California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Division I first-team pitcher, was selected in the 26th round by the San Diego Padres. Buck, a left-hander, was picked by the Montreal Expos in the 30th round.
Lost to the draft were prep right-handed pitcher Jeff Pry Jr., out of Oregon; catcher Kala Ka'aihue out of Iolani; prep infielder Travis Denker out of California; and JC left-hander Evan MacLane out of Feather River (Quincy, Calif.).
Ka'aihue signed with Boston, which picked him in the 22nd round. But his contract was voided when he failed a physical because of a tear in his elbow. He sought an opinion from Dr. Lewis Yocum, a renowned elbow surgeon, who has cleared him to throw. Ka'aihue said he should know in about 1 1/2 weeks whether he will need surgery or if he can seek a tryout or go to school.
Pry, a 17th-round pick by Cleveland, signed recently, but failed a physical for the same reason as Ka'aihue, Trapasso said. Pry will attend Mount Hood CC.
Denker signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who picked him in the 21st round, while MacLane signed with the New York Mets, who took him in the 25th round.
Rodrigues had been drafted twice, but did not sign.
Other JC transfers attending class yesterday were: pitcher Stephen Bryant (Feather River); shortstop Andrew Castillo (Cerritos); and outfielder Robbie Wilder (Sierra).
Other incoming freshmen are outfielder Derek Dupree (Seattle) and Mid-Pacific Institute shortstop Troy Hanzawa.
Four-year college transfers in school are junior outfielder Gregory Kish from Oklahoma and senior catcher Creighton Kahoali'i from California-Berkeley.
Other JC outfield transfers, power-hitting Nate Thurber of Northeast Oklahoma A&M and Brandon Bailey of Sacramento City, are expected to enroll in the spring semester.
Also, 6-foot-8 pitcher Colby Summer, who sat out with an elbow injury last season, will continue his rehabilitation in Portland, Ore., Trapasso said. Summer is expected to enroll at UH for the spring semester.
