Posted on: Sunday, June 8, 2003

Kapa'a's Furtado signs pro deal with Texas Rangers

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kaua'i can soon add another professional baseball player to its list.

Kapa'a graduate Micah Furtado said he has signed with the Texas Rangers, who picked him in the 20th round Tuesday in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft out of Lewis-Clark State.

"The opportunity is right," said Furtado, back home on Kaua'i before reporting to the Rangers training facility in Surprise, Ariz.

Furtado, a draft-eligible sophomore because he had red-shirted one year, batted .342 with 50 runs, five home runs and 21 RBI. He had an on-base percentage of .467 and had eight steals in 11 attempts in helping the Warriors win their second NAIA national title during his three years at the Idaho school.

"Two national championships in three years is good," he said. "I'm ready to go."

He will be the second Kaua'i player the in minor leagues. The other is New York Mets farmhand, pitcher Tyler Yates, a Kaua'i High graduate who was drafted out of the University of Hawai'i-Hilo in 1998 by the Oakland Athletics.

"We have to build up the dream" for Kaua'i youth, Furtado said. "Not too many scouts come out to Kaua'i. The only time they get to see us is in states (high school state tournaments)."

He would not disclose his bonus, but said it included two years of school. He said two years at L-C State is worth about $10,000.

Meanwhile, UH-Manoa lost one of its recruits in JC left-handed pitcher Evan Maclane (Feather River College). He signed with the New York Mets, who picked him in the 25th round. He is one of six UH recruits who were drafted.

"You prepare for this," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "Now it puts a premium on (Kaimi) Mead, (Matt) Buck and (Mark) Rodrigues."

The three recruits he mentioned are left-handed pitchers; UH had only one this past season in Justin Cayetano.

Buck, an Arizona high school player, was drafted in the 30th round by Montreal. Rodrigues, drafted out of Kaua'i High in 2001 and Los Medanos JC last year, and Mead were not drafted.

Trapasso will be meeting with some of the other drafted recruits with hopes of retaining them.

Meanwhile, UH junior center fielder Tim Montgomery, drafted in the 23rd round by Cleveland, said the Indians probably won't negotiate with him until after they sign their earlier picks.