Kahaloa top MLB Draft prospect from Hawaii

Just days before his life could change forever, Ian Kahaloa is keeping it pretty simple.

“It is exciting, but I haven’t thought about it too much,” the recent Campbell High graduate said on the phone Friday. “I’ve been hitting the gym a lot.”

Kahaloa, who has been scrutinized by numerous scouts every time he pitched this season, is the top prospect from Hawaii heading into the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft that runs Monday through Wednesday.

The first and second rounds will take place Monday with the rest of the first 10 rounds completed Tuesday. Wednesday will be a loaded day with rounds 11-40.

The past two first-round picks from Hawaii were infielder Kolten Wong in 2011 and left-hander Kodi Medeiros from Waiakea last season.

Kahaloa isn’t regarded quite as highly as Medeiros but his advisor, David Matranga, who also represents Wong and Medeiros, thinks he could get picked in the first few rounds.

“Every single team has shown interest in (Kahaloa), and Ian is definitely open to his options,” Matranga said. “I don’t have a crystal ball, so you don’t really know what will happen until draft day.”

Kahaloa garnered a lot of attention when he hit 98 mph in a preseason game at Central Oahu Regional Park. His velocity tapered off at times during the season but Matranga said he made a good impression at a recent pre-draft workout.

“Ian and his parents flew to California for a May 25 workout and some other Hawaii players were there,” Matranga said. “He threw 94 to 97 miles per hour and I think that really helped him. It showed them that he still has his velocity.”

Kahaloa, who plans to watch the draft on TV at home, was ranked No. 113 in the final Baseball America Top 500 draft prospects list. The slot value for the 113th overall pick is listed at $503,100.

Other players who joined Kahaloa at the pre-draft workout at Vila Park High School in California included Hawaii’s Kaeo Aliviado and Quintin Torres-Costa, Hawaii Pacific’s Harley Holt and Jordan DePonte and Kamehameha-Hawaii’s Kobi Candaroma.

Torres-Costa is one of three Rainbow pitchers with eligibility remaining who could have an interesting decision to make over the next month.

Right-hander Tyler Brashears, who was named first team All-Big West Conference, is ranked No. 470 in Baseball America’s Top 500 prospects list.

Various scouts have a wide array of opinions regarding Brashears, who despite going 8-5 with a 1.86 ERA in 1012⁄3 innings this season, has some questions regarding his pitching motion.

Multiple scouts believe he’s prone to injury because of his delivery.

Brashears, who worked out with the Los Angeles Dodgers after the season ended, is back in Hawaii for the draft and is enrolled in two online classes.

“Right now there are some teams that really like me and they are the ones that don’t mind (my delivery) and there are a couple of teams that don’t,” Brashears said. “It’s weird because some of the teams I’m talking to are talking about the top 10 rounds and some others are talking to me about the 15th or 20th rounds.”

Torres-Costa struggled as a starter but was dominant as a closer for UH. He didn’t give up a single run in Big West play allowing nine hits and nine walks in 181⁄3 innings with 24 strikeouts.

He fully recovered from Tommy John surgery two years ago and his fastball velocity elevated into the low 90s.

As a redshirt sophomore, he still has two more years of eligibility, which could be a factor.

Right-hander L.J. Brewster was a full-time pitcher for the first time this season and entered the season with a lot of attention after throwing 93 last summer. His velocity tailed off during a season in which he finished 6-5 with a 2.95 ERA.

His pitchers from last season aren’t the only thing Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso has to worry about.

More than half of his early signing class are potential draftees, including Kahaloa, Candaroma, Kamehameha’s Kekai Rios and ‘Iolani’s Pikai Winchester.

Kentucky junior Ka’ai Tom, a 2012 Saint Louis alumnus, is considered the second-highest draft pick with local ties. Ranked No. 239 by Baseball America, Tom has hit .352 in two full seasons with the Wildcats with 29 doubles, eight homers and 92 RBIs. He was named first-team All-SEC as a sophomore.