Posted on: Thursday, June 9, 2005
A's pick Hawai'i's Bryant
| • | Several sons of former big leaguers are drafted |
| • | A-Rod powers Yankees' rout |
| • | 2005 Hawai'i draft picks |
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Eight more players with ties to Hawai'i were selected yesterday in the final 32 rounds of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, bringing the total to 12 in the 50-round draft.
University of Hawai'i right-handed pitcher Stephen Bryant led yesterday's picks, taken in the 20th round by the Oakland Athletics, who selected UH junior second baseman Isaac Omura in the 17th round on Tuesday.
"This is great," Bryant said. "Maybe I'll be playing with Omura, if he signs."
Bryant is from Chico, Calif., which is about three hours north of Oakland, he said.
"That's my favorite team," Bryant said of the Athletics. "I'm excited. I'll have a chance to go out and prove myself and see what happens."
Bryant earned all-Western Athletic Conference first-team honors after going 8-3 with a 3.17 earned run average. He won WAC Pitcher of the Week honors four times this season.
"I know I won't get too much money (for a bonus) because I'm a senior, but I'm going to see if I can get some (money) for school," said Bryant, who needs another year to attain a bachelor's degree.
The first of four Hawai'i high school players picked yesterday was Iolani left-handed pitcher Ian Mopas, taken in the 26th round by the Minnesota Twins.
"I was pretty surprised I was chosen so early," Mopas said. "I was like, 'Whoa!' "
Mopas said Twins scout Dan Cox called to congratulate him on his selection.
Three picks later in the 26th round, Kaua'i High right-handed pitcher/shortstop Kirby Yates was taken by the Boston Red Sox.
"I knew they were interested," Yates said. "They scouted me a lot, but I didn't have a clue that they were going to be the ones picking me."
Yates said he is likely to be a draft-and-follow. He plans to attend Yavapai College, where the Red Sox would monitor his progress and decide whether to sign him before next year's draft.
"I was relieved that it came," Yates said of getting drafted. "I got drafted out of high school and that's a big accomplishment for me, I think, because it's one of my goals, to play professional baseball. I'm pretty happy about that."
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Hawai'i's Joe Spiers was one of six shortstops named to the Louisville Slugger's Freshman All-America Team, which is picked by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
Spiers was a second-team all-Western Athletic Conference selection. He batted .307 with 11 doubles and 21 RBIs. He led the WAC with 31 stolen bases.
Rice's Joe Savery, a first baseman/pitcher, was named Freshman Player of the Year. The Kansas City Royals selected Mid-Pacific Institute catcher Kip Masuda in the 47th round and Saint Louis first baseman Chester Wilson in the 48th. Both were Interscholastic League of Honolulu first-team selections and are scheduled to play with the Island Movers this summer, along with Yates. Both learned of their selections through Royals scout Eric Tokunaga.
"I was a little shocked," said Masuda, who was working out at Mid-Pacific while the draft was going on.
"This is good," said Wilson, who was watching TV during the draft. "It's my goal to get to that next level."
Masuda said he will meet later with Tokunaga to discuss the situation. Masuda has already signed with Long Beach State.
"I don't know right now," Masuda said. "But I'm probably going to school. Most likely."
Wilson said he is considering attending Southern Utah, which is coached by former Punahou star and Hawai'i Pacific coach Dave Eldredge, or South Mountain Community College, which made the NJCAA World Series. If he goes to Southern Utah, he will not be eligible for the draft until after his junior year. If he goes to the JC, he can be a draft-and-follow or be eligible for next year's draft.
Two 2004 graduates were drafted out of junior colleges. Catcher Jacob Myking, a Kalaheo graduate, was re-drafted by the Royals, this time in the 38th round out of San Joaquin Delta. The Royals took him in the 45th round last year out of high school.
Myking is in Alaska for a baseball tournament.
Also, 2004 Saint Louis graduate Marc Nobriga, a right-handed pitcher, was drafted in the 47th round out of Hartnell Community College by the Texas Rangers. He was an ILH second-team all-star pitcher in 2004.
Nobriga was 11-3 with a 1.47 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 128 innings. He was selected to the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association Northern California All-America team.
"If anything, I'll be a draft-and-follow," said Nobriga, who heard of his selection when a Rangers scout called. "I plan to go back to Hartnell."
Nobriga also is scheduled to play for the Movers.
UH recruit Ryan Selden, a shortstop, was taken in the 41st round by the Philadelphia Phillies out of Canyon Springs in Moreno Valley, Calif. On Tuesday, Rainbow recruit Cody Allen, a third baseman/pitcher, was picked in the 10th round by the Florida Marlins out of Elk Grove (Calif.) High.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
Yates can get first-hand knowledge of pro ball because his brother, Tyler, is a pitcher with the New York Mets. Tyler Yates is on the disabled list. He was on Kaua'i to attend Kirby's graduation.
UH's Spiers an All-American
