Mets take Baldwin’s Kaupe in fourth round

Branden Kaupe didn’t have to wait long to hear his name called.

The recent Baldwin graduate became the highest draftee straight out of high school from Hawaii in more than a decade when the New York Mets selected him in the fourth round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday.

Kaupe, a switch-hitting middle infielder, was taken with the 140th overall pick and was the only player with local ties selected through the first 15 rounds.

The draft concludes today with rounds 16-40.

Kaupe said he was watching the draft online with his father, Napa, when he received a call from the Mets around 7:45 a.m.

"I was surprised," said Kaupe, who hit .511 with two home runs in his senior season with the Bears. "I was projected to be taken in the sixth, seventh or eighth rounds."

He’s the highest draft pick straight out of high school from Hawaii since Kamehameha’s Bronson Sardinha was taken with the 34th overall pick in 2001.

Kaupe is expected to meet with a member of the Mets organization next week and said he plans to sign.

"As of right now I plan on going straight (to pro ball)," said Kaupe, who had committed to Central Arizona College, a community college in Coolidge, Ariz.

Kaupe helped Baldwin finish second to Waiakea in the state tournament last month.

He’s the first player from Maui taken in the first four rounds since 2004 when another Baldwin alumnus, Kurt Suzuki, was drafted in the second round out of Cal State Fullerton by the Oakland Athletics.

Kaupe played shortstop for most of his senior season, but expects to play second base for the Mets.

"I followed them a lot when Jose Reyes used to play for them because I play like him," Kaupe said. "Once he (left the team) I kind of gave up on the Mets, though."

The University of Hawaii didn’t have anyone selected through 15 rounds for the first time since 2005.

None of UH’s 2013 recruits has been drafted yet.