Exactly one month after celebrating a state baseball title, Ian Kahaloa realized his professional dream.

The recent Campbell High graduate was selected in the fifth round of the 2015 Major League First-Year Player Draft by the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday as the No. 145 overall pick.

At home surrounded by most of his Sabers teammates, Kahaloa received a text from his advisor notifying him the Reds would take him in four picks. He waited to tell his teammates until his name was read aloud, creating quite the outburst in Ewa Beach.

“I had just the baseball boys (over). They were waiting,” Kahaloa said. “It was a long wait but it was worth it.”

The 6-foot-1 right-hander was the first player with local ties taken. Nine picks later, Kentucky outfielder Ka‘ai Tom, a 2012 Saint Louis alumnus, was drafted No. 154 overall by the Cleveland Indians.

Kahaloa led Campbell to its first state title since 1978 with a 10-inning masterpiece in the semifinals against Kamehameha. He struck out 15 in a 138-pitch complete game to beat the Warriors 2-1.

He was named the Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State Player of the Year with a 5-0 record and 0.16 ERA. He struck out 72 and walked only four in 44 innings while hitting .520 with three triples and 15 RBIs.

He participated in a pre-draft workout in California and graduated two weeks ago. Sunday, he was inducted into the Hawaii High School Hall of Honor. Two days later, he was an official MLB draft pick.

“It’s been a hectic month, but I’m not tired of it,” Kahaloa said.

Kahaloa thought he might get taken in the third round but had to wait another hour before hearing his name called. He had committed to Hawaii as a junior and signed with the Rainbow Warriors but will turn professional instead.

“Once the third round ended I had no clue who was going to pick me,” Kahaloa said.

When asked about signing, he said, “there’s a good chance.”

Slot value for the No. 145 overall pick is listed at $369,400. Kean Wong, who was drafted out of Waiakea No. 128 overall in 2013, received a $391,000 signing bonus. Mid-Pacific’s Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who was taken two picks later that year, got $202,000 according to numbers from Baseball America.

Kahaloa is the first Hawaii-born player drafted by the Reds since Punahou graduate Michael Suiter in 2011, who elected to go to Kansas instead.

He is the fifth Campbell alum drafted, joining Chad Bailey (2002), Charles Kaalekahi (2010), Robert Kahana (2011, ’14) and Po‘okela Kaalekahi (2014).

The only pitchers from Hawaii drafted higher straight out of high school are Waiakea’s Kodi Medeiros (No. 12, 2014), Waipahu’s Jerome Williams (No. 39, 1999), Leilehua’s Tony Ferreira (No. 49, 1981), Saint Louis’ Brandon League (No. 59, 2001), Kaiser’s Sid Fernandez (No. 73, 1981) and Waiakea’s Onan Masaoka (No. 79, 1995).

Tom was the third player from Hawaii drafted by the Indians in the past two years. Hilo’s Jodd Carter signed with Cleveland as a 24th-round pick last year while Punahou’s K.J. Harrison, a 25th-round selection, went to Oregon State, where he earned freshman All-America honors this season.

Tom hit .352 in two full seasons with the Wildcats with 29 doubles, eight homers and 92 RBIs and was named first-team All-SEC as a sophomore. His 148 career hits rank second in program history for a two-year UK player.

He stole 29 of 34 bases and drew more walks (45) than he had strikeouts (43).

“It was pretty exciting because it’s what you dream of growing up as a kid and now you feel that it’s become real,” said Tom, who was home in Kaneohe for the draft.

The slot value for the No. 154 overall pick is listed at $338,700. He played outfield for Kentucky and has a year of eligibility remaining but will likely sign.

“I’m very strong on going professional,” Tom said. “When you get drafted this high it’s an opportunity that is really hard to pass up.”

Rounds 11 through 40 will begin Wednesday at 6 a.m. UH pitchers Tyler Brashears, Quintin Torres-Costa and L.J. Brewster and high schoolers Kekai Rios of Kamehameha, Kobi Candaroma of Kamehameha-Hawaii and ‘Iolani’s Pikai Winchester are some of about 12 to 15 players with local ties who could hear their names called.

2015 MLB DRAFT PICKS

Players with local ties

Nationals draft sonof Mariano Rivera

NEW YORK » Iona College right-hander Mariano Rivera III, son of the former New York Yankees closer, was drafted in the fourth round with the 134th overall pick Tuesday by the Washington Nationals.

Rivera was 5-7 with a 2.65 ERA and a school-record 113 strikeouts for the Gaels, while also being selected the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s pitcher of the year.

His famous father saved a major league-record 652 games.

The younger Rivera has a fastball that hits the mid- to upper-90s (mph) consistently, along with a solid curve and slider.

Associated Press