For the first time since 1998, players with Hawai'i ties taken in the Major League Baseball first-year player draft fell under double digits.

Only seven players — and that's stretching it since one of them barely played here and transferred out — were picked in the 50-round draft, which saw 1,453 players selected.

The three University of Hawai'i players finished with eligibility — pitchers Tyler Davis and Ian Harrington, and third baseman Justin Frash — were taken between the 21st and 27th rounds, while UH-Hilo pitcher Lars Knepper became his school's first draft pick since 2001 (outfielder Brian Rooke).

Recent Kalani High graduate Ridge Carpenter was the only high school player taken, compared with five last year, four in 2005 and seven in 2004.

Keoni Ruth, a 2003 Kamehameha Schools graduate, was drafted for the third time in five years when the San Diego Padres took him in the 22nd round.

Former Rainbow first baseman Eli Rimes was picked in the 25th round by the Cincinnati Reds. He played sparingly in 2006 before transferring to Division II Sonoma State this past season. He batted .327 with 13 home runs and 45 RBI.

Davis, a side-arming right-hander, was the first player with ties to Hawai'i taken when the San Diego Padres picked him in the 21st round. He was 8-4 with a 4.18 earned run average and seven saves during his two seasons with UH. He was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection at relief pitcher in 2006.

"I was just shocked to see my name up there," said Davis. "I'm really happy and excited."

Davis said the Padres' scout called him during the 20th round, telling him San Diego would pick him soon.

"But I didn't think it would be that early, since it was only a couple minutes (after that) before I got drafted," Davis said.

The Padres then chose Ruth in the 22nd round. Ruth was ecstatic with the pick because he had become a Padres fan since he had played for the University of San Diego from 2004 to 2006 before transferring to NAIA Concordia University his senior year. The Advertiser's Player of the Year in 2003 had been drafted twice before. Kansas City picked him in the 17th round out of Kamehameha in 2003 and the Chicago Cubs selected him in the 17th round last year. He batted .339 with 16 doubles, a triple and three home runs with 29 RBI.

"I'm excited," Ruth said. "I definitely want that opportunity to go out and play. I'm a big fan of the Padres, too, so I'm excited about getting out there and start playing."

Harrington went in the 23rd round to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The left-hander went 16-11 with a 4.16 ERA during his two seasons at UH. He was monitoring the draft on the Internet with his family when he saw his name. The call came shortly after.

"Anybody that plays sports usually dreams of playing professionally, so I've been given that opportunity and I'm excited about it," he said.

He said he will head to Arizona on Monday for a physical and to sign his contract. The recent draft picks will then have a mini camp before getting their assignments next Saturday, he said.

Frash, who is still in Hawai'i, was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 27th round.

"I woke up, got on the computer — I was with Jon Hee and Ryan Asato — I was looking at the previous rounds and it was on Round 27 and I saw my name pop up," Frash said. "I was like, 'Whoa.' It was pretty cool."

To those familiar with "Moneyball," which documented Athletics' drafting philosophies, the pick was no surprise. They like players like Frash who are selective. He drew 48 walks while striking out only 28 times. He batted .346 with 19 doubles, three triples and three home runs with 35 RBIs. He was a second-team All-WAC pick.

"I was hoping I would (get picked by Oakland) because a couple of other people felt that organization would suit me best," Frash said. "This organization, I feel, fits me great."

Since the four players are done with eligibility, signing isn't an issue.

But Vulcans' Knepper just completed his junior year after transferring from Bellevue (Wash.) JC, the same program that Harrington transferred from to Manoa. He must weigh returning to Hilo with a bonus the San Francisco Giants will offer him as a 29th-round pick. Knepper was 3-8 with a 4.57 ERA. He had 81 strikeouts to 23 walks in 80 2/3 innings.

"I have a year left and I think it would be nice if they offered me a year of college paid for, if I choose to go back to school," Knepper said. "Other than that, I'm just happy about the opportunity and just want to play."

Carpenter, meanwhile, was picked as a "summer follow." Red Sox scout Wally Komatsubara said a crosschecker will evaluate Carpenter during his American Legion and Island Movers games this summer.

"Then we will make an offer to him (based on) what round he should've gone," Komatsubara said. "He still has a chance to make more than the 32nd round (slot is worth)."

Carpenter said he had plans on attending Hartnell junior college in California.

"I have to talk to my parents," he said. "I didn't expect to get drafted at all."

Carpenter is 6 feet and 175 pounds. He bats left and throws right. The Falcons' right fielder was an OIA East first-team selection, Kalani coach Shannon Hirai said.

Carpenter batted .535 with six doubles, three triples and 13 RBI during the OIA season and playoffs. He hit four home runs in preseason, Hirai said.

"He has some power," Komatsubara said. "He's a good fielder, has an average arm. Of all the high school guys, we thought that he was the best."

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.