HONOLULU — The Hawaii baseball team already knew Cade Halemanu was out the door. But now, the Rainbow Warriors could have the satisfaction of knowing their four-year right-hander took the leap straight to the next level.
Halemanu, who committed to Oregon after transferring out of UH following the 2022 season, was taken in the 10th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays as the 314th overall pick on Monday.
The Pearl City High alumnus now has a decision to make on whether to turn pro or to play a fifth college season as a UO Duck. The value of the pick was estimated at $149,500 by MLB.
"Real work starts now," Halemanu wrote on his Instagram page.
UH wished him well after the pick was made.
Halemanu, a former walk-on who earned a scholarship late in his career, spent the last two years as a starter after working out of the bullpen his first two years.
He got the nod as the opening night starter from first-year UH coach Rich Hill but Halemanu struggled in his first handful of starts. He gradually picked up his play by the Big West portion of the season as a weekend starter. In 15 starts in 2022, he went 4-5 with a 4.69 earned-run average.
For his career, Halemanu had a 3.86 ERA in 158 2/3 innings, striking out 147 and walking 73.
UH’s other top pro prospect, BWC first-team right-hander Li‘i Pontes, remains on the board. Rounds 11 through 20 of the draft take place on Tuesday.
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii.
