Indians select former Hawaii pitcher Aaron Davenport in 6th round of draft
STAR-ADVERTISER / 2020
Aaron Davenport delivers to home plate during a game at Les Murakami Stadium at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2020.
Former University of Hawaii pitcher Aaron Davenport waited a long time to fulfill a dream.
What was another hour?
The Cleveland Indians selected in Davenport in the sixth round — the 186th pick overall — in the Major League Baseball Draft.
“It was pretty crazy,” Davenport said. “They called me as their (potential) fifth-(round) pick, but I turned it down. They called me back with a better offer, and I couldn’t turn it down. … I’m pretty stoked.”
Davenport said details of the agreement would not be announced until a couple weeks. But MLB.com listed the “approximate slot value” for a bonus at $336,600 for the Indians’ fifth-round spot, and $259,400 for the sixth round.
Davenport said there is no doubt about his decision. “I am going,” Davenport said. “I’m ready to roll and get to the big leagues as fast as possible.”
Davenport, a right-hander from Duvall, Wash., pitched three seasons for the Rainbow Warriors, the past two as the Friday starter. In 2021, he averaged 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings and allowed 12 walks in his first 10 starts.
