Recent Iolani graduate Carlos Rodriguez, a left-handed pitcher, was taken in the 20th round by the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

He is the first Hawaii high school player taken thus far.

It was a long morning for Rodriguez, who said he got a call from the Braves before and after he was picked.

"It was a great feeling when it happened," Rodriguez said when heard his name called on the MLB.com draft tracker. "It was a tough process. We didn't get what we wanted, but it's going to work out in the end."

Rodriguez, who has signed with Oregon State, said he thought he would go higher in the draft. He said he is undecided which direction he will take. He has until Aug. 15 to sign with the Padres or he will enroll at OSU and won't be eligible for the draft again until after this junior season or three years, if he redshirts. His plans were to play summer ball before school starts.

Rodriguez was 4-3 with a 2.65 earned run average with 56 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings pitched for the Raiders this past season. (Stats from Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League website.)

The draft can be tracked on MLB.com. The draft resumes Wednesday with the final 20 rounds. There are 50 rounds.

There were other players with ties to Hawaii high schools picked.

Outfielder Dayton Alexander, a 2009 graduate of Kamehameha-Maui, who played for Feather River JC this past season. He was picked in the sixth round, the 196th selection.

Catcher Zack Kometani, a 2008 graduate of Punahou, was picked in the 21st round out of the University of San Diego by the San Diego Padres, who listed him as a first baseman.

Of course, Kamehameha-Hawaii graduate Kolten Wong, of the University of Hawaii, was picked in the first round Monday. He was the 22nd player taken overall.

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