Shortstop Maaki Yamazaki started his Hawaii baseball career with a walk-on request and ended it walking away with another Big West honor.
On Wednesday, Yamazaki was named to the All-Big West first team as a utility player. Last year, he was selected as the league’s top shortstop.
Outfielder Scotty Scott was selected as the Big West’s freshman field player of the year.
Pitcher Dylan Thomas and third baseman Ethan Lopez were named to the second team. Scott and first baseman Alex Baeza received honorable mentions for UH (20-30, 8-16 Big West).
Yamazaki, who was born and reared in Japan, attended a school in Oregon for two years before seeking to transfer to UH three years ago. UH coach Mike Trapasso approved the request. Yamazaki redshirted in 2017 to improve his grades. Viewed as a dependable fielder, Yamazaki ended up leading the Rainbow Warriors in hitting in 2018. This senior season, left-swinging Yamazaki hit .308 while striking out a team-low 7.6 % of his at-bats.
Yamazaki played in 47 games, starting 45, despite suffering an injury to his right shoulder on April 24. Because the ailment made it painful to make deep throws from short, Yamazaki was used as a second baseman and designated hitter the final 13 games of the season. He hit .324 after suffering the injury.
Scott, who grew up in Houston, hit .291 while leading the ’Bows in runs (36), triples (four) and steals (six). He played in all 50 games as the leadoff hitter. He was consistent in clutch situations, batting .340 with two outs. Scott opened the season in left field, then moved to center when Adam Fogel suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the 10th game of the year.
“I appreciate everything the coaching staff and my older teammates have done for me this season,” Scott said. “I’m glad I got to take advantage of every opportunity.”
While he reached many of his personal goals, Scott said, “I’ll never be 100% satisfied. You can always improve every time you strike out or make an error or don’t hit a ball hard. I’m definitely not going to celebrate too long. I’ve got three more years at UH, and I look forward to keep trying to make an impact on the field.”
Thomas has been one of the league’s top closers since assuming the role in 2017. This year, he was used as a starter and reliever before returning permanently to closer. In 20 appearances, Thomas averaged 9.89 strikeouts per nine innings with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.5-to-1. He had a 1.14 ERA against Big West hitters. Thomas, who was a fourth-year junior this year, is expected to be selected early in next week’s Major League Baseball Draft for First-Year Players.
Lopez led the ’Bows with 20 extra-base hits, including team highs in doubles (13) and home runs (five). He started at short after Yamazaki was injured. Trapasso said Lopez was regarded as one of the senior leaders.
The coaches “always preach playing the game the right way and, no matter what the score is, to play it one pitch at a time,” Lopez said. “And play it hard. I’m glad the young guys followed. They really stepped it up this year. I can’t wait to see what they’re going to do next year.”
Baeza was solid at the plate and in the field. He hit .278, including .571 in situations with a runner on third with one or no outs. He committed only two errors in a team-high 449 chances.
