Hawaii's draftees to play in NY-Penn
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
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The New York-Pennsylvania League will have a Hawai'i flavor this season.
Former Hawai'i Rainbow Jon Hee might be facing former teammate Matt Daly and former Hawai'i Pacific pitcher Kaimi Mead during the short-season Single-A league, which opens Tuesday. All three picks of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft were told of their assignments after signing or agreeing to terms.
The league is a misnomer because teams are scattered in Maryland, Ohio and Vermont, as well as in New York and Pennsylvania. The short-season league is the typical entry level for draftees with college experience.
Daly, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound right-hander, still had a year of eligibility left, but, as anticipated, signed with the Toronto Blue Jays, who picked him in the 13th round.
"I'm very excited and can't wait to get on the mound and throw my first pitch in pro baseball," said Daly, who added his bonus was the equivalent of a seventh-rounder, or about $80,000.
Daly said he will leave today for the team's training facility in Florida. He will pitch for the Auburn (N.Y.) Doubledays.
"I was very excited to have the opportunity to play in Hawai'i," Daly said. "I definitely will miss the coaches out there. It was a great experience that I recommend it to anybody who will have that opportunity."
Hee, a 2003 graduate of Mid-Pacific Institute, was selected in the 21st round by the Boston Red Sox. He played four seasons with the Rainbows and graduated last month. He will play for the Lowell (Mass.) Spinners. He said he will sign when he reports to the team.
"I'm a little nervous, excited," Hee said. "It's something new, but I'm excited to get back out there and play."
Although Hee played shortstop the second half of the season, he was drafted as a second baseman.
Mead, a 2003 graduate of Roosevelt, pitched for UH in 2004, then transferred to the College of San Mateo before joining HPU in 2007. The 5-11, 190-pound left-hander was the PacWest Player and Pitcher of the Year this past season. The Cleveland Indians drafted Mead in the 18th round. He will report to Cleveland Saturday and has been assigned to the Mahoning Valley (Niles, Ohio) Scrappers.
"Now, it's a whole new ball game," Mead said of turning pro. "I have to start from the bottom and work my way up."
He said Indians West Coast crosschecker Paul Cogan noticed him when the Sea Warriors played New Mexico State on April 9. Mead had a no-decision in the start, going 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) with nine strikeouts. Cogan also watched Mead pitch against Grand Canyon in Arizona in a game in which HPU won, 9-3. Mead went seven innings, allowing a run with two strikeouts.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.