Kolten Wong’s professional career will begin soon enough.
When, exactly, is still unclear.
A report surfaced late Tuesday that Wong had agreed to terms on a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, who selected the Hawaii second baseman in the first round of this month’s draft.
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak, however, was quoted Wednesday in a story on mlb.com saying "it’s not true."
When reached over the phone, Wong’s father, Kaha, did not want to comment.
A source close to the situation said Wong is expected to fly to Missouri as early as this weekend to sign a contract with a bonus in the seven-figure range, pending a physical.
A three-year starter at Hawaii, where he earned All-America honors as a junior, the left-handed hitter from Hilo was drafted with the 22nd overall pick.
Punahou alumnus Justin Wayne, the fifth overall selection in the 2000 draft, is the only player from a Hawaii high school drafted higher than Wong in the summer phase of the draft, dating back to 1965.
Wong was drafted out of high school in the 16th round of the 2008 draft by the Minnesota Twins, but turned down the deal to play for the Rainbows.
In three years, he cracked UH’s top 10 all-time in hits (235), home runs (25), doubles (47) and batting average (.358), and made the All-Western Athletic Conference first team every season.
As a junior, Wong hit .378 with seven home runs and 23 stolen bases, earning first team All-America honors by Baseball America and Perfect Game USA.
Wong eventually could reunite with former double-play partner Greg Garcia in the Cards’ minor league system. Garcia was named an all-star with Quad Cities before he was recently promoted to Palm Beach in the Class-A Advanced Florida State League.
Garcia was a seventh-round selection in the 2010 draft.
Calling all pitchers
Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso’s summer recruiting will focus heavily on pitching after juniors Michael Blake and Randy Yard passed up their senior seasons to sign with professional teams.
Blake, a 16th-round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks, was assigned to Yakima in the Class-A Short Season Northwest League and allowed one run on one hit with two walks and a strikeout in one-third of an inning in his first appearance.
Yard signed this week with the Cincinnati Reds, who drafted him in the 36th round.
Should Connor Little, a 49th-round pick of the Florida Marlins, decide to turn pro, UH will lose half of the 12 pitchers it used during the 2011 season.
Little said yesterday he had yet to make a decision.
Almadova on fire
Hawaii junior-to-be BrelandAlmadova has continued to stay hot in the summer, piling up impressive numbers with the Wenatchee AppleSox of the West Coast League.
Since joining the team two weeks ago, Almadova is hitting .400 (24-for-60) with five doubles, two triples and 11 runs scored.
He’s tied for the league lead in average and is second with 13 RBIs, despite hitting leadoff. He’s had a hit in all 12 games, including a 5-for-6 performance in his summer debut on June 10.
Wenatchee is 11-1 with him in the lineup.
Tops in the West
Hawaii finished the season ranked No. 17 nationally in home attendance.
It’s average of 3,320 tickets issued per game was the highest in the West region and highest for UH baseball in five years.
Fresno State was UH’s closest competition in the WAC, finishing No. 32 at 2,019 per game.
LSU led the nation, averaging 10,534 per game.
