Four players with Hawaii roots heard their names called Sunday as Major League Baseball wrapped up rounds five through 20 of its draft.
Arizona State shortstop Nu’u Contrades, a Saint Louis School alum, was the first player from Hawaii selected. The San Diego Padres took him in the sixth round with the 186th pick, a slot valued at $350,100. Contrades, who battled a back injury in 2024, delivered a standout redshirt junior season, batting .366 with a 1.197 OPS, 21 home runs and 61 RBIs, while going 10 for 10 on steals. For his ASU career, he hit .324 with 36 homers and 145 RBIs, and was 33 for 36 in stolen bases.
The University of Hawaii’s Ben Zeigler-Namoa followed as the Atlanta Braves’ 10th-round choice, 292nd overall, a slot estimated at $198,000. The Baldwin High graduate from Maui became the first Rainbow Warrior picked in this year’s two-day event. Zeigler-Namoa, who transferred to UH after a season at Yavapai College in Arizona, led the ’Bows in hits, RBIs, doubles and slugging in 2025 but went unselected that year. He returned to Manoa on a waiver for a fourth season and hit .294 while committing just three errors in 266 chances. He has played both first base and the outfield. Zeigler-Namoa said he was surprised but grateful to be chosen by Atlanta after not attending a pre-draft workout with the club and learning on draft day that the Braves planned to take him in the eighth, ninth or 10th round.
Former Baldwin standout Kuhio Aloy, now an Arkansas outfielder after beginning his college career at BYU, went to the New York Mets in the 11th round at No. 330 overall. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound right-handed hitter has a .295 career average and .859 OPS in college with 30 homers and 149 RBIs. This past season he batted .293 with a .838 OPS and nine homers, and he converted all five stolen base attempts after not attempting a steal the previous two years.
UNLV outfielder Jack Salmon, who transferred from UH ahead of the 2026 season, was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 19th round with the 559th pick. Salmon is the nephew of longtime Angels star Tim Salmon.
UH ace goes undrafted, options remain
Hawaii right-hander Isaiah Magdaleno was not among the 613 players taken over 20 rounds. Magdaleno, a Baseball America third-team All-America selection, had entered the transfer portal in part to gain leverage in negotiations but did not commit to another school. He can sign as an undrafted free agent with an MLB organization, move to another NCAA program, or return to UH for a fourth season.
At a glance: Hawaii picks
- Nu’u Contrades, SS, Arizona State/Saint Louis, Padres, Round 6, No. 186 overall
- Ben Zeigler-Namoa, 1B/OF, Hawaii/Baldwin, Braves, Round 10, No. 292 overall
- Kuhio Aloy, OF, Arkansas/Baldwin, Mets, Round 11, No. 330 overall
- Jack Salmon, OF, UNLV/Hawaii, Angels, Round 19, No. 559 overall
