Hawaii pitchers L.J. Brewster and Quintin Torres-Costa both confirmed Thursday that they will sign professionally and forgo their remaining eligibility with the University of Hawaii.
They were two of three Hawaii pitchers taken in this week’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Right-handed junior Tyler Brashears was the other UH pitcher drafted. He remains undecided and has until July 17 to decide whether to sign or return to school.
Brewster, a junior, will fly to Florida on Saturday to sign, pending a physical, with the Miami Marlins, who drafted the right-hander in the 22nd round.
In his first full season as a starter, he went 6-5 with a 2.93 ERA.
"It’s a tough decision leaving such a beautiful place like Hawaii. Everyone there has been nothing but great to me," Brewster said. "I’m very grateful I had the opportunity to play there and I’m ready to continue my baseball career as a Marlin."
Torres-Costa said Thursday he has agreed to terms on a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, who drafted him in he 35th round.
Torres-Costa will fly to Arizona on Saturday to meet with the Brewers to sign, pending a physical. He had two years of college eligibility left as a redshirt sophomore but said he’s ready to play at the next level.
"It has always been my dream to play professional baseball and I thank UH for the opportunity that they gave me," Torres-Costa said. "But now I feel like I am ready to take that next step toward my goal, which is to play Major League Baseball."
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Brewers drafted fellow Waiakea alum Kodi Medeiros in the first round last year. Torres-Costa and Medeiros are close friends and were teammates in 2012 when Waiakea won the state title.
Brewster and Torres-Costa are the 11th and 12th Hawaii pitchers to sign professionally since the 2010 draft. Brashears could also sign this summer, which would increase that total to 13 in five years.
"We’re very excited for Tyler, L.J. and Quintin," Hawaii coach Mike Trapasso said in a news release on Wednesday. "They deserve all the credit for their hard work and dedication.
"This is also a great positive for UH baseball — proof that our program develops pitchers as none of the three were drafted out of high school."
