Red Sox void Ka'aihue's deal
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
A pre-draft elbow injury has cost 2003 Iolani School graduate Kala Ka'aihue his pro contract with the Boston Red Sox.
Advertiser library photo • March 11, 2002
Ka'aihue, who returned home from the Red Sox training facility at Fort Myers, Fla., was drafted by Boston in the 22nd round in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft on June 4.
"I might be able to improve my chances of getting a better contract in the future," Kala Ka'aihue said.
"I had some arm trouble, but I didn't think it was serious," said Ka'aihue, an All-State catcher. "I had (Red Sox personnel) take a look at an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) that I took before I went up. There was some ligament damage and they voided the contract."
Ka'aihue said he suffered the injury during a workout with the Atlanta Braves on May 29. He said during his three weeks at Fort Myers, all he did was rehab his elbow. He did not do any hitting or throwing. Ka'aihue said because he did not participate in actual workouts, and was not to receive his bonus until he passed the team's physical examination, his amateur status has been restored.
Ka'aihue signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Hawai'i. He said he has yet to contact UH coach Mike Trapasso because he wants to seek an opinion from Dr. Lewis Yocum, medical director for the Anaheim Angels. Ka'aihue said he will call Yocum today.
Yocum performs the "Tommy John" elbow surgery, which requires a year of rehabilitation. Yocum recently operated on UH pitcher Colby Summer. Ka'aihue said he will make a determination of his baseball future after consulting Yocum.
Trapasso said he has not heard from Ka'aihue, but is aware of his situation. He said he would have to check with UH's compliance office to see whether Ka'aihue would be eligible to play at UH. Ka'aihue could play at a Division II school or at a junior college because each their rules are not as rigid regarding this type of situation.
Although he hasn't done any throwing, Ka'aihue said his elbow "feels" like it's healing. If Yocum determines that he does not need surgery, Ka'aihue said he will consider his options. He said he might consider enrolling at a junior college because he would eligible for the draft after one season. If he were to attend a four-year school, he would have to wait until after his third season to be eligible.
Ka'aihue, whose brother Kila (Iolani '02) plays first base for Single-A Burlington (Iowa) in the Kansas City Royals system, said at first he was "bummed" about the injury. Now, he sees a bright side.
"I might be able to improve my chances of getting a better contract in the future," he said. "So I'm not that bummed out. It's not really a bad situation. I'll come back even stronger."
