By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
Aaron Correa’s new job is a specialized one with a funny acronym: loogy, which stands for left-handed one out guy.
The former University of Hawaii at Hilo pitcher and 2006 Kamehameha-Hawaii graduate landed a pro contract with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association, an independent league, which starts its season May 17.
Kaha Wong, who was Correa’s youth baseball coach in Little League, got the ball rolling, contacting agent Dave Matranga. He sent out video of Correa and the Explorers showed interest. Matranga is the agent for Kolten Wong, the St. Louis Cardinals’ first-round draft pick last year.
Correa, a 6-foot, 185-pound left-hander, said he felt fortunate to get a pro deal without having to try out for the Explorers (51-49 last season), a fourth-place team in the five-team Central division. There are nine other teams in the North and South divisions.
“Growing up, playing pro baseball it’s your dream,” said Correa, who graduated with a communications degree last year. “Uncle Kaha asked me if I wanted to play pro ball and I said, ‘Definitely, yes. In a heartbeat, I’d love to play.’ He told me to keep working hard and stay in shape and it happened. The last three months is the hardest I’ve ever worked out. When Kolten was here, I threw in the bullpen to him.
“When I had the contract in front of me, it was like it wasn’t real. All I could do was stare at it. They told me I’m going to be their lefty specialist. Coach Kaha said it’s unusual to go to spring training with a contract. I’m pretty much on the team. He told me to be humble and do my best.”
Correa leaves for Sioux City, Iowa on May 4. His contract is for the standard $800 per month salary in independent ball. Like most of his teammates, he will live with a host family.
In his UHH senior season in 2011, in nine starts, Correa was 3-2 in with a 5.84 ERA in 49 1/3 innings. He allowed 70 hits, but struck out 40 and walked just 12. In the world of sabermetrics, that averages to seven strikeouts and two walks per nine innings — numbers that outshine his high ERA.
The most famous name on Sioux City’s roster is Wally Backman. But it’s not the Wally Backman of the 1986 World Series champion New York Mets. The Explorers’ Wally Backman batted .294 with seven homers and 62 RBIs and played outfield. The other Wally Backman played second base.
“I’ve never been to Iowa and don’t know anything about it,” said Correa, who will have at least one fan in Jensen Sato, a 2006 Waiakea graduate.
Sato played at Graceland College, an NAIA school in Lamoni, Iowa, and is a student-assistant coach. The school is about a four-hour drive from Sioux City. Both were rivals during their Big Island Interscholastic Federation days.
After two seasons at Northeastern Oklahoma junior college, Correa transferred to UHH, where he redshirted a season before pitching at Wong Stadium his final two years, enjoying the surrounding of family and friends.
“We had a disappointing season,” said Correa, referring to UHH’s 21-25 record, the 19th straight losing season. “But I was happy with the experience of the friends I made and pitching in front of my family and friends.”
It’s a different ballgame pitching in pro ball, where a struggling player can be released in a heartbeat. And unlike Major League Baseball, there are no farm systems for independent leagues.
Still, that doesn’t faze Correa in the least.
“My velocity is in the mid 80-mph range. I throw a slider, splitter and changeup. My go-to pitch is my splitter to righties or lefties,” he said. “I feel comfortable throwing to left-handers. The key is to pitch smart and don’t think that velocity is better than accuracy. I need to work the corners, and be more consistent with it, and throw my offspeed for strikes. If I work on that, I should be fine.
“Right now, my dream came true — I’m being paid to play baseball. I hope to stay on the team, and have a Major League Baseball affiliate see my potential and pick me up. I want to work my way up there.”
