Kaimi Mead is getting more than he bargained for in Hawaii Winter Baseball.

But the 2003 graduate of Roosevelt High isn't complaining.

Added to the league as an extra in case of pitching shortages, Mead has become an integral part of the Honolulu Sharks' pitching staff. When he picked up his first save Sunday in a 6-3 win against the North Shore Honu, it was his fifth appearance in the first two weeks of the season. He has logged nine innings with an earned run average of 3.00.

"I wasn't supposed to get this much work, but it's good," said Mead, who also pitched for the University of Hawai'i and Hawai'i Pacific University. "It's helped me get better. I got my velo (velocity) back up. I'm starting to learn more."

Mead was drafted in the 18th round by the Cleveland Indians in June after his senior season with the Division II Sea Warriors. He was assigned to short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley of the New York-Pennsylvania League, where he went 5-8 with a 5.62 ERA, pitching 62 innings from 15 starts. That came after going 7-1 with a 2.25 ERA at HPU, where he worked 72 innings from 11 starts.

Still, Mead has been eager to learn, even if it means adding more innings this year.

"I'm trying to learn what pitches hitters can't hit, trying to attack their weaknesses," Mead said. "That's the main thing."

He has noticed the hitters in HWB are more advanced than what he faced over the summer.

"They have a really good approach to the whole game," he said.

Sharks pitching coach Robert Ellis has been impressed with Mead.

"He pitches with a game plan," Ellis said. "He's very aware of what's going on in the game when he's down in the bullpen. He's a student of the game. He really pays attention to details. He's not afraid to go after guys. That's the biggest thing at any level. He pitches to contact. He's aggressive in the strike zone, goes after guys. He trusts his stuff."

Ellis added that Mead's preparation each day reflects in his performance.

"His routines are awesome," Ellis said. "That's the thing that was missing from him when I've seen him early on. Now, seeing him on a daily basis, having established a routine, he's awesome. He's able to apply his daily routines into the game."

Mead is thrilled to be a part of HWB.

"It's awesome," he said. "It's in front of my family and my family might not see me (pitch in person) again."

WORTH THE WAIT

Cincinnati Reds first base prospect Yonder Alonso joined the BeachBoys about a week into the season. But the seventh overall pick from the June draft had a good reason for being late. The Reds were working with him in the instructional league.

"I worked on my defense a lot and improved my body, my strength," said Alonso, who is hitting .318 with two home runs.

"I just want to improve on my game, work on every aspect of the game," Alonso said.

Alonso signed close to the Aug. 15 deadline, so he only played in six games at High-A Sarasota of the Florida State League. He signed a deal worth about $4.5 million that includes a major league contract. That means he is on the Reds' 40-man roster.

"Definitely, I'm on the fast track," he said. "I feel blessed by that. I thank my agent, my family and everybody for supporting me all along. It's been great."