Baseball
Iolani alum Shane Sasaki signs with Rays


Two-time All-Hawaii outfielder Shane Sasaki signed Tuesday with the Tampa Bay Rays.

It was first reported by MLB.com's Jim Callis that Sasaki signed for $475, 000.  The third-round draft pick, the 99th player taken overall, was slotted at $587,400. The deal, which went through his agent, was an agreed upon figure before he was actually drafted, the recent Iolani graduate said. This is a normal practice in the draft. 

The signing deadline is Friday. A freak mishap delayed Sasaki's signing about three weeks because he was recovering from a collapsed lung that sent him to the hospital. He said it happened when he was hiking a day before he was to leave for Florida originally on June 10.  

"I was just walking," Sasaki said in a phone interview from Port Charlotte, Florida, site of the Rays' Gulf Coast League affiliate for rookies. "I think it was just the change of altitude."

Sasaki said he can perform normal functions of a baseball player, except for heavy weight lifting for now. 

Sasaki, a center fielder, led the state with a .565 batting average in Division I. He scored 26 runs, drove in 26. He had five doubles, three triples and five home runs with eight stolen bases for the Raiders.

The GCL opened June 24 and ends Aug. 31. Sasaki is in the same league, but different division from Iolani classmate Micah Yonamine, who is with the Philadelphia Phillies' affiliate. They are not scheduled to play each other.

Signing bonuses for the rest of Hawaii-drafted players, according to Baseball America's database.

Dylan Thomas, University of Hawaii, $100,000

Edgar Barclay, Cal State Bakersfield via St. Joseph, $125,000

Codie Paiva, Loyola Marymount via Kamehameha, $2,500

Micah Yonamine, Iolani, $280,000

Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa, Pierce JC via Baldwin, $125,000



Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].




Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.


MORE STORIES

Track and field proposals among those being considered at HIADA conference

Athletics administrators from across the state are gathered at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, where the...

HHSAA inducts 44th class into Hall of Honor

Twelve student-athletes from 10 different schools and representing three of the state's leagues were...

Iolani's Nakanelua garners All-Hawaii Player of the Year honors

Senior setter Bailey Nakanelua was the engine that helped drive the Raiders back to the top of state...

Pearl City's Ngirmidol headlines All-OIA Division II picks

Chargers' setter Marley Ngirmidol named Player of the Year in OIA Division II; Pearl City head coach...

Moanalua sweeps All-OIA East Boys Volleyball top honors

Na Menehune outside hitter Lionel Gannon named Player of the Year and head coach Alan Cabanting named...

Mililani's Kimura named All-OIA West Player of the Year

Senior OH Seth Kimura was joined by teammate Kaito Duranceau on the first team; Trojans' head coach Gabriel...