By KEVIN JAKAHI
Tribune-Herald sports writer
Kean Wong is making a name for himself, and slowly building his baseball resume against the best competition in the country.
Last month, the Waiakea senior competed in the Area Code Games, a showcase that features 250 of the best high school players in the nation. The six-day event annually attracts more than 300 Major League Baseball scouts and hundreds of college recruiters.
There are eight teams in the Area Code Games, all named after MLB organizations. Wong played for the Cincinnati Reds, which had players from Hawaii, Arizona, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Basically, the Area Code Games is the first stop on the high school prospect circuit as MLB teams organize their boards for the First-Year Player Draft in June 2013. Wong is also scheduled to play in the Arizona Senior Fall Classic from Oct. 11-14, another top showcase.
“He did good, but it was a reality check. Guys were throwing 93 to 97 mph,” said his dad, Kaha Wong. “They had guys who threw harder than him, ran faster than him. But he was pretty much one of the top players.”
The Waiakea catcher/third baseman batted 4 for 10, with two doubles, stole three bases and had two walks. He was one of four Hawaii players. The other three were from Oahu: Mid-Pacific catcher Marcus Doi, Saint Louis catcher Iolana Akau and Iolani shortstop Tanner Nishioka.
Wong, Akau and Doi are Hawaii verbal commits. “Kean didn’t try out. They just put him on the team,” Kaha Wong said. “Kolten never went to that or the Arizona Fall Classic.
“The only problem was his playing time. He’d get only one or two at-bats and they’d take him out. One game he had a double and single and they took him out. The scouts were mad because they know they won’t see him much because he’s from Hawaii.”
For the first time, Kaha Wong will host his own pro scouting showcase, featuring Big Island Interscholastic Federation players from Hilo, Kamehameha and Waiakea scrimmaging against players from Hawaii Prep and Konawaena.
The showcase will be held Sunday, Sept. 30, at Wong Stadium. He said at least a half-dozen local scouts will attend, including Tampa Bay Rays scout Casey Onaga. Wong will also run the second annual Hilo college camp, featuring 18 schools, Dec. 10-11.
Over on Oahu, the third annual Honolulu showcase will be held Oct. 26-28. It’s being run by Onaga, who said mainland scouts will also attend.
Waiakea’s Wong, junior pitcher Kodi Medeiros, senior outfielder Andy Filoteo III; Hilo senior shortstop Chayce Kaaua, senior pitcher Kian Kurokawa, junior outfielder Jodd Carter and second baseman Micah Kaaukai; Kamehameha outfielders Makoa Rosario, Chay Toson, Chad Teshima and infielder Bronson Pulgados; Konawaena catcher Evyn Yamaguchi, pitcher Jarrett Kitaoka and infielder Ryan Torres-Torioka and Kealakehe pitcher Teo Buehler are scheduled to participate.
“Kean and the three others got the exposure at the Area Code, so they’re the top guys (for the MLB draft). But I’m sure there are other guys who will generate interest,” Onaga said. “You never know. It all depends on how they do in the spring. The draft is nine months away. It’s pretty early. We’ll just wait and see.
“But Kean definitely helped himself at the Area Code. All the decision-makers were there, the scouting directors and cross-checkers. That’s one of the best ways to get noticed. At the Arizona classic, they want to see his progress. They saw him in August. They want to see if he got better, stronger and faster. They want to see him again and project what he could be and from there they’ll make their arrangements to see him play in the spring.”
Most of the mainland scouts will likely have one last look at Wong, who projects as a third baseman or outfielder, during the preseason in February.
“They’ll see him in the preseason. Maybe guys will fly back for a second look,” Onaga said. “It all depends. Most of them are finishing up or doing other work. Typically, guys come out early. It’s just that the high school seasons on the mainland start a little later.”
So, the batting order for Wong and everyone else goes Hilo pro showcase on Sept. 30, then the Oahu pro showcase Oct. 26-28. There’s also a Hilo college camp on Dec. 10-11, which Onaga said he’ll try to squeeze in.
“For guys in general, the more time they get the better it is for all of them,” Onaga said.
For information on the Hilo pro showcase or college camp, call Wong at 895-4595.
