4 with Hawaii ties get the call during the MLB draft

Four players with Hawaii ties were selected Sunday in the second phase of Major League Baseball Draft.

The Atlanta Braves chose University of Hawaii’s Ben Zeigler-Namoa in the 10th round. According to MLB.com, the 292nd overall selection has an estimated slot value of $198,000.

Zeigler-Namoa was the first UH player selected in the two-day MLB draft, which started Saturday with the first four rounds. Rounds five to 20 were held Sunday.

The first Hawaii player picked was shortstop Nu’u Contrades, a Saint Louis School graduate who played at Arizona State. The All-Big 12 selection this past season was picked by the San Diego Padres in the sixth round. The 186th selection has a pick value of $350,100.

Former Baldwin player Kuhio Aloy, an outfielder for Arkansas, was selected in the 11th round, 330th overall, by the New York Mets.

Jack Salmon, an outfielder who played at UNLV this season after transferring from UH, was the Los Angeles Angels’ 19th-round. His uncle is Angels’ great Tim Salmon.

Isaiah Magdaleno, Hawaii’s ace pitcher, was not selected among the 613 picks in the 20-round draft. Magdaleno, who was named to Baseball America’s All-America third team, entered the transfer portal in part as leverage in negotiations. But Magdaleno did not sign with another school. Magdaleno has the option of signing a free-agent deal with an MLB organization, joining another NCAA program, or returning to UH for a fourth season.

Zeigler-Namoa, a Baldwin High graduate who grew up on Maui, was surprised to be the Braves’ choice. He was not selected in the 2025 draft when he was coming off his most productive season as a Rainbow Warrior.

“First off, just grateful for everything that’s happened,” said Zeigler-Namoa, who was used as a first baseman and outfielder this past season. “Went through a lot, especially after last year’s draft and not getting selected. It definitely feels a little more gratifying. I want to thank my teammates and coaches.”

Zeigler-Namoa played the 2022 season at Yavapai (community) College in Arizona. He then transferred to UH. After leading the ’Bows in hits, RBIs, doubles and slugging in 2025, he was expected to be selected in that year’s draft. After being passed over, he opted to take advantage of a waiver that allowed him to play a fourth UH season this year. Zeigler-Namoa hit .294. He committed only three errors in 266 chances.

The Braves had kept in contact with Zeigler-Namoa through the years.

“I never went to a workout (with the Braves),” Zeigler-Namoa said. “To say I expected the Braves was definitely not what I was expecting. But, for sure, I’m grateful.”

Zeigler-Namoa and his mom were following the draft through the MLB app connected to his television. Late in the seventh round, the Braves notified his agent that he would be selected in the eighth, ninth or 10th round. “And that’s a lock,” Zeigler-Namoa said his agent was told.

After his name appeared on the screen, Zeigler-Namoa said, “it definitely was an unreal feeling. Watching my mom celebrate has to be one of the top-two things.”

Zeigler-Namoa said he has not been told which position he will play, although he was listed as a first baseman.

Contrades, who played four seasons at ASU (his 2024 season was limited by a back injury), had a standout redshirt Junior season.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder batted .366, with an OPS of 1.197, hit 21 homers, and drove in 61 runs. He also stole 10 bases in 10 attempts.

In his career, he batted .324, with an OPS of .979, hit 36 homers, drove in 145 runs, scored 141, walked 60 times while striking out 113 and was 33-for-36 in stolen bases.

Aloy, who turns 21 today, started his career at BYU. After one season there, he transferred to Arkansas, where he played the past two seasons.

For his college career, the 6-1, 205 Aloy batted .295, with an OPS of .859. He hit 30 homers and drove in 149 runs. This past season, he batted .293, with an OPS of.838, including nine homers. He was 5-for-5 in stolen bases this season while never having an attempt the previous two seasons.