• Left-handed pitcher Justin Azze, who was not eligible to play for the University of Hawai'i last season because of a transfer issue, was the highest selection among the six, going in the seventh round to the Baltimore Orioles.

• Iolani School graduate Kainoa Obrey, The Advertiser's 1998 state Player of the Year, was chosen in the 13th round by the St. Louis Cardinals. He is a redshirt junior third baseman for Brigham Young.

• UH senior catcher Brian Bock went in the 14th round to the Orioles.

• Kamehameha Schools' senior shortstop Keoni Ruth, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Player of the Year, went in the 17th round to the Kansas City Royals. He was the only Hawai'i high school player drafted yesterday.

• UH recruit Jeff Pry Jr., a senior right-handed pitcher from Franklin High in Portland, Ore., was picked by the Cleveland Indians, also in the 17th round.

• Kapa'a High graduate Micah Furtado, a draft-eligible redshirt sophomore second baseman for NAIA national champion Lewis-Clark State, was taken in the 20th round by the Texas Rangers.

Not playing didn't hurt

For Azze, missing the season actually improved his draft status. Last year, he was a 10th-round selection (287th overall) by the Montreal Expos out of Orange Coast junior college. He was the 194th pick yesterday.

"I'm pretty confident I'm ready to go," said Azze, who is 6 feet 3 and 205 pounds.

Although Azze could not play, he attended classes at UH and worked out with other players who also weren't eligible. (He could not work out with the team.)

"I was a little surprised, a little relieved, considering the situation I was put in this year," Azze said. "I had a chance to really develop as a pitcher. I just couldn't get to show it (in a game). But I'm glad (scouts) liked what they saw in the bullpen. They were saying a lot of positive things. They were impressed that I was still able to stay in shape, that I could do it without any motivation."

Obrey, who was chosen in the 11th round by the Royals last year as a draft-eligible sophomore, was the 395th overall pick yesterday. He started in 53 of 54 games at BYU and was third on the team with a .362 batting average. He tied for the team lead with 11 home runs and led with 65 RBIs.

"It feels good," Obrey said. "I feel I'm going to play (this time)."

Bock, chosen 404th overall, was thrilled with being selected after a four-year career with the Rainbows.

"I was surprised to get picked in the 14th round," he said. "I can't believe it. I figured I'd go the second day, if at all."

Bock batted .272 with four home runs and 22 RBIs. He started in 45 games.

College or pros?

Ruth, taken 492nd overall, said he got a call from the Royals during the 16th round.

"I was expecting to go earlier, but I feel fortunate to just get drafted," he said. "I'm happy."

Ruth has signed a letter of intent to play for the University of San Diego.

"We'll see what happens, see if I can get what I really want," he said of upcoming negotiations. "If not, I'll go to school."

"We're happy to have drafted him," Royals scout Eric Tokunaga said. "We felt he was an all-around player with all-around skills. His internal drive showed us a lot when he went through rehab (of his torn labrum after football season)."

Tokunaga added that when high school players are drafted or receive college scholarships, they are the products of youth league and high school coaches who gave them guidance.

"Keoni is a product of that," Tokunaga said. "He's a typical local boy, playing in all those little leagues. Because of all those little league coaches and the high school programs we have, we're able to get these kinds of players. That's why they're reaping the benefits of getting drafted and going to school."

Leaning toward signing

Pry, the 498th overall pick, is a 6-4, 205-pound right-hander who is being counted on by UH to bolster the pitching staff. He was at graduation ceremonies yesterday and could not be reached.

Furtado, chosen 586th overall, was in Seattle when he got the call from the Rangers.

"I'm pretty stoked," he said. "I think it's 60-40 that I'm going to sign."