HILO, Hawai'i –
Jordan Kurokawa's baseball future is with the Philadelphia Phillies who took the right-handed pitcher in the 28
th round and 827
th overall pick of the 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
The University of Hawaii at Hilo senior's final collegiate campaign resulted with a 3-5 record, a 2.96 ERA in 67 innings, 63 hits allowed, 24 walks and 67 strikeouts. He twice earned PacWest and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Regional Pitcher of the Week honors. The awards were for a 2-hit, 7-strikeout shutout of Division I University of Hawai'i and a 1-hit, 9-strikeout shutout of Hawai'i Pacific University.
During his four-year collegiate career, he accumulated five PacWest Pitcher of the Week honors, two NCBWA Pitcher of the Week honors and the 2015 Golden State Collegiate baseball League's Pitcher of the Year honor. Kurokawa was a third-team all-PacWest selection in 2015.
VULCAN BASEBALL AND THE MLB DRAFT
Kurokawa becomes the seventh Vulcan and fourth pitcher selected in a MLB Draft.
Back in 1983, right-handed pitcher
Derek Diaz was the first and highest Vulcan to be selected going to Milwaukee Brewers in the 8
th round.
Louis Pakele, another right-handed pitcher, was selected in the 31
st round by the California Angels in 1990.
Tyler Yates was the Oakland A's 23
rd round pick in 1998. The right-handed pitcher made it to the big leagues in 2004 with the New York Mets. His five-year career included a season with the Mets, and two seasons with both the Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Slick-fielding shortstop
Brandon Chaves was the first position player selected. He was picked by the Pirates in the 10
th round of the 2000 draft.
A season later, the Oakland A's used their 31
st round pick on fleet-footed outfielder
Brian Rooke.
Lars Knepper was the last player selected. The right-hander's hard slider went to the San Francisco Giants in the 29
th round in 2007.
| Year |
Name |
Position |
Team |
Round |
| 1983 |
Derek Diaz |
Pitcher |
Milwaukee |
8th |
| 1990 |
Louis Pakele |
Pitcher |
California |
31st |
| 1998 |
Tyler Yates |
Pitcher |
Oakland |
23rd |
| 2000 |
Brandon Chaves |
Shortstop |
Pittsburgh |
10th |
| 2001 |
Brian Rooke |
Outfielder |
Oakland |
31st |
| 2007 |
Lars Knepper |
Pitcher |
San Francisco |
29th |
According to
www.baseball-reference.com 15 former Vulcans played pro ball. In addition to those drafted, also playing professionally were pitcher
Aaron Correa (2012-13), pitcher
Clay Daugherty (2005), pitcher
Joe Davis (1986), infielder
Mike Higa (2009-10), pitcher
John Holley (2011-12), outfielder
Keoni Manago (2012-13), outfielder
Kaliko Oligo (2004-05), infielder
Tylor Prudhomme (2010-13) and pitcher
Brendan Sagara (1999).
