The state’s top prep junior has accepted a 2022 scholarship offer from the University of Hawaii baseball team.

“I felt it was a good fit for me,” ‘Iolani School shortstop Tate Shimao told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “I felt the biggest part was representing Hawaii, and making it cool to stay home.”

Shimao, who is 6 feet and 190 pounds, also can play second base and pitch. Shimao can sprint 60 yards in 6.6 seconds, and 10 yards in 1.48 seconds. The exit velocity off his bat is 94 mph. Perfect Game gave Shimao a rating of 9, which equates to the potential of being picked in the top 10 rounds of the Major League Baseball draft. MaxPreps ranked Shimao as Hawaii’s top 2022 prospect. Shimao also has a cumulative grade-point average of 3.8.

Shimao said he first began playing baseball when he was 3. “I played my whole life,” Shimao said. “I find the joy in playing it.”

It was guidance from his coaches and his father that helped develop Shimao’s quick bat swing. “I worked a lot every day with my dad, and just coaches on the way helped me,” Shimao said. “I felt I took a lot of different pieces from different coaches and made (the swing) my own.”

Shimao’s father also set up a batting cage on the family’s property. “Man, it’s great,” Shimao said. “If I have a bad game, I can come home and hit, even during the dark. I’m lucky to have a cage.”

Shimao said he has long admired shortstops Derek Jeter and Fernando Tatis Jr. He also grew up attending UH games at Les Murakami Stadium.

“I liked going on the field and getting signatures from players when I was younger, or running to the back (to chase down baseballs) whenever guys hit home runs,” Shimao said.

His goal is future goal is to “make an impact whatever way I can” with the Rainbow Warriors.