The way pitcher Kanekoa Texeira sees it, at least others noticed his accomplishments this past season.

The 2004 Kamehameha Schools graduate was traded yesterday with outfielder Nick Swisher from the Chicago White Sox to the New York Yankees for infielder Wilson Betemit and minor league pitchers Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez.

Texeira, drafted by the White Sox in the 22nd round out of Saddleback JC in 2006, is coming off his most successful pro season, going 6-3 with a 1.33 earned run average with 21 saves between High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham. He was ranked the 19th-best prospect in the High-A Carolina League by Baseball America. He also was the winning pitcher of the High-A all-star game between the Carolina and California leagues.

"Pretty excited knowing other people are looking at what you did during the season and that they want you on their team," Texeira said of the trade. "It's a pretty exciting time in my life."

Texeira said he learned of the trade only moments before it became public when White Sox director of minor league instruction Buddy Bell called him.

"It's kind of sad because you leave all your friends," he said of being traded. "But at the same time, it's a job."

Last year, Texeira was pitching in Hawaii Winter Baseball. This offseason, he has been resting on Maui. (Marquez was in HWB in 2006.)

HONORING VICTORINO

Maui's Shane Victorino of the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at tomorrow's Hawaii Winter Baseball game between the Honolulu Sharks and Waikiki BeachBoys at 7 p.m. at Les Murakami Stadium.

Game sponsor Island Air arranged to have the "Flyin Hawaiian" make the appearance, HWB said in a press release.

The Sharks and BeachBoys open a two-game series starting at 7:30 tonight at Murakami Stadium. The BeachBoys (18-16) hold a 1 1/2-game lead on the Sharks (16-17) in HWB East with two games to play. The East champion will play the West champion West Oahu CaneFires at 1 p.m. Sunday for the league championship.