Iolani School alumnus Kala Ka'aihue confirmed that he has been selected by his organization to play in the Hawai'i Winter Baseball league.

The league opens Oct. 1 and runs through Nov. 22.

Ka'aihue, a first baseman, is among four players from the Atlanta Braves organization picked to play, according to Baseball America Online. The others are third basemen Eric Campbell and Van Pope, and catcher Clint Sammons.

However, Ka'aihue is still recovering from a season-ending injury.

"I broke my (left) hand when I got beaned," he said. "There were 16 games left in the season."

He still must see a doctor before returning to action, he said.

Ka'aihue, a 2003 Iolani graduate, signed with the Braves as an undrafted free agent just before the 2005 draft after playing at South Mountain Community College in Arizona. He was originally drafted and signed by the Boston Red Sox out of high school, but his contract was later voided upon discovery of an elbow injury.

Ka'aihue split time between Rome (Ga.) of the Low-A South Atlantic League and Myrtle Beach (S.C.) of the High-A Carolina League. His combined batting average was .281 with 28 home runs and 80 RBIs. He had a .407 on-base percentage and a .550 slugging average.

Campbell, who played at Rome, batted .296 with 22 home runs, 77 RBIs and 18 steals.

Sammons played with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, batting .258 with eight home runs and 56 RBIs.

Pope also played with the Pelicans, batting . 263 with 31 doubles, 15 home runs and 74 RBIs.

Prior to the season, Baseball America had Campbell ranked as Atlanta's eighth-highest prospect in the organization. Pope was 16th and Sammons was 25th. Ka'aihue was not ranked, but might be for next season after a strong performance this past year.

The Oct. 1 league openers have the West O'ahu CaneFires playing the North Shore Honu at Hans L'Orange Park in Waipahu, while the Waikiki BeachBoys will be taking on the Honolulu Sharks at Les Murakami Stadium. Both games start at 3 p.m.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.