When Derrick Saito enrolled at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo three years ago, it was for its engineering program.

But the 2005 graduate of Baldwin High will put his degree on hold. Yesterday, the junior left-handed pitcher signed for a $100,000 bonus, plus a year of college tuition, with the Kansas City Royals. They picked Saito in the 16th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Friday.

"My freshman year, it never crossed my mind," said Saito about playing pro ball in a telephone interview from California.

But first he will finish final exams this week before reporting June 16 to Idaho Falls of the advanced rookie Pioneer League. The manager at Idaho Falls is Jim Gabella, who managed the West Oahu CaneFires of Hawaii Winter Baseball this past season.

"I'm excited, but this is just the beginning," he said. "I have a lot of work ahead of me."

Saito made 14 appearances, seven as a starter, going 1-2 with a 6.38 ERA. He struck out 42, but walked 32 in 36 2/3 innings.

He said he needs to improve command of his fastball and develop secondary pitches. He added he needs to build more strength and durability for the longer seasons of pro ball. And the scouts apparently didn't see a problem with his 5-foot-8, 155-pound stature because of his 92 to 93 mph fastball. His bonus is in the range of a sixth-round pick. He said he told scouts in advance that $100,000 was his asking price.

"The Blue Jays asked if I would sign for $80,000" in the 14th round, Saito added. "I turned them down."

Saito said his fastball was about 86 to 87 mph in high school, but no one recruited him. He walked-on at Cal Poly and despite drawing scouts' attention last season as a sophomore, he still was not put on scholarship.

Also, Hawai'i center fielder Brandon Haislet signed Saturday morning with the Philadelphia Phillies, who picked him in the 23rd round. He leaves today from his Sacramento, Calif., home for the Phillies' training camp in Florida.

"It feels great to get a shot," said Haislet, who graduated last month. "I can just concentrate on baseball and not worry about school."

Haislet, a first-team all-Western Athletic Conference selection, led the Rainbows in most offensive categories, hitting .389 with 22 doubles, seven home runs, 50 RBI, 31 walks and 11 steals. He committed only one error in 161 chances (.994) in center field.

He will be joined by Wahiawa's Troy Hanzawa, the Phillies' 16th-round choice out of San Diego State, where he completed his eligibility.

Hanzawa (Mid-Pacific '03) said he is leaving for Florida today and will sign when he gets to camp.

The all-Mountain West first-team shortstop led the Aztecs with a .370 batting average, 53 runs, seven triples and 11 steals and shared the team lead with 15 doubles.

Meanwhile, former UH infielder Jon Hee, who also has graduated, said he will sign as early as today with the Boston Red Sox, who picked him in the 21st round.

Also, UH catcher Landon Hernandez said he expects to hear later this week from the Detroit Tigers, who picked him in the 50th round. He said he will weigh their offer before deciding if he will return to UH for his senior season.

The deadline for teams to sign their drafted players is Aug. 15.