Wong, Kiner-Falefa selected in fourth round of MLB draft
Waiakea's Kean Wong slides safely into home ahead of the throw to Baldwin's Isaiah Maddela in the top of the fifth inning.
Mid-Pacific's Isiah Kiner Falefa runs down Kailua's Corey Louis Soares in the top of the first inning of the 2013 Sugar Mill Classic on Monday, May 27, 2013 at Hans L'Orange Park in Waipahu.
Waiakea’s Kean Wong, who signed to play at Hawaii next season, was selected in the fourth round (No. 128 overall) of the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.
Mid-Pacific shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa was taken two picks later at No. 130 overall by the Texas Rangers.
Kiner-Falefa wasn’t listed as a high draft pick by any of the major scouting services but had been quietly talking to teams in recent weeks.
The assigned value for Wong’s pick at No. 128 is listed at $393,500 while the No. 130 overall pick is valued at $385,900.
Wong said he plans to sign with the Rays and will not attend UH. The deal is expected to be similar to the slot value of the pick. His brother, Kolten Wong, signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011 as a first-round draft pick (No. 22 overall) with a $1.3 million signing bonus. He is currently playing in Triple-A.
Kiner-Falefa, who had committed to San Jose State, said he plans to sign this weekend and will report to Arizona either next Friday or Saturday. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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Wong and Kiner-Falefa are the highest draft picks taken straight out of a local high school since Kamehameha’s Bronson Sardinha was selected No. 34 overall in 2001.
Wong was the second UH signee selected in the draft. LHP Blake Taylor out of Dana Hills (Calif.) High was taken in the second round (No. 51 overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.
First baseman Jake Bauers of Marina (Calif.) High became the third UH signee selected when the San Diego Padres took him in the seventh round (No. 208 overall). The slot value for that pick is $182,100.
