Yes, there is a time limit in baseball.

The Hawaii baseball team is awaiting a final decision on whether relief pitcher Dylan Thomas returns as a fourth-year junior or accepts an offer from the Minnesota Twins.

The Twins selected Thomas in the 38th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Thomas had turned down what-if proposals from teams willing to pick him between the 10th and 15th rounds because they did not meet his asking price.

Thomas departed Thursday morning to pitch in the Cape Cod Baseball League in Massachusetts this summer. Thomas said the Twins want to watch him pitch in the summer league before making an offer. The deadline is July 6 for teams to sign drafted players who were not seniors.

If Thomas returns to UH, as expected, he will be given an opportunity to train as a starting pitcher this fall. This past season, Thomas amassed a Big West-leading 14 saves while averaging 9.9 strikeouts and 0.92 walks per nine innings. Thomas, who has a three-pitch repertoire, relied mostly on a slider that can break in either direction.

“When you’re a closer, you don’t want to get beat without your best pitches,” UH coach Mike Trapasso said. “His slider is his best pitch.”

As a starter, Thomas can mix a fastball whose velocity can reach the low 90s.

“I think that benefits him from the scouting perspective,” Trapasso said, “and I think that’ll get him extended with his pitch counts and help his arm get stronger.”

Trapasso expressed disappointment that the pitching staff’s ace, Jackson Rees, was not selected in the 40-round draft. “I know he can go into professional baseball tomorrow and have success in the minor leagues because of his stuff,” Trapasso said.

Rees, who already earned a bachelor’s degree, is expected to return to UH for his senior season. Trapasso said several scouts indicated Rees is viewed as a better prospect after next season.

“I feel bad for him because I know he was looking forward to (the draft),” Trapasso said. “Hopefully, he’ll understand this is the business side of this, and he’ll go out and have a great senior year and be a good senior sign, which apparently is what a lot of scouts were looking at him as.”

If Thomas and Rees return, it will cushion the loss of two highly regarded recruits. The Seattle Mariners drafted College of Southern Nevada’s Joey O’Brien, who averaged 12.02 strikeouts per nine innings as a left-handed pitcher and hit .330 with a .549 slugging percentage. Chris Allen, who was 13-0 with a 1.34 ERA for College of Marin this season, was selected by the Chicago Cubs. Both players reached contract agreements.

“As disappointed as you are to lose great players, you’re pleased they let you know right away,” Trapasso said.

Trapasso said there is enough time to fill the vacated roster spots.

“We’re close to understanding what the makeup of our roster will be,” Trapasso said. “We’ve got to go out and replace a couple guys we lost. We’ve got some work to do. It’ll be a busy summer. But, again, it always is.”