Former UH Hilo pitcher Dylan Spain was selected in the 10th round of the Major League Baseball draft today by the Atlanta Braves. 

The 24-year-old was the second overall player selected from the state of Hawai`i, with University of Hawai`i pitcher Aaron Davenport the only player going before him in the sixth round to Cleveland. Davenport is originally from the state of Washington.

Spain is believed to be UH Hilo's third highest draft choice ever. Derek Diaz was selected in the eighth round by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1983, and Brandon Chaves was also a tenth round pick in 2000 by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Chavez was overall pick number 299 and Spain is No. 307.

The 6-foot-6 righthander last pitched for the Vulcans in 2019. The Honolulu native (St. Louis) was 5-1 with a 3.80 ERA on that UH Hilo team that finished second in the PacWest and was 26-19 overall. He had three complete games that season and two shutouts, including a 9-inning, three-hit shutout against Point Loma. He was a Third Team All-PacWest Conference selection.

He was a Vulcan redshirt in 2020. He spent 2021 working out to prepare for the draft with Darin Yap (Tactical Strength & Conditioning) and Ashkhon Kuhaulua of Academy of Missing Barrels on Oahu.

"I was pretty surprised to go in the tenth round, having not played collegiately for the past two years," Spain said. "But I feel like I belong in that slot. I am looking forward to the opportunity."

MLB Draft Tracker has Spain's 10th round slot projected for a signing bonus in the neighborhood of $143,000. Once signed, Spain would report to Atlanta's rookie ball facility in North Port, Florida later this week.