Ever wonder what University of Hawaii at Hilo ace Jordan Kurokawa’s numbers would look like with a little run support?
Look no further than the season the 6-foot-3 senior right-hander turned in this summer in the Golden State Collegiate Baseball League. Kurokawa was named the league’s Pitcher of the Year on Tuesday after posting a spotless 7-0 record and with a 2.64 ERA.
“It was really different being out there and playing with players who can put a lot of runs on the board,” he said.
His statistics reflect the difference.
During his junior season with the Vulcans, Kurokawa sported a 3.07 ERA and struck out 68 batters in 70 1/3 innings, but he had just a 3-4 record to show for it.
“Sometimes it can get you down, but you just try to go out and do your job,” Kurokawa said.
The Honolulu native led the summer league in wins and was second in ERA. Hitting the low-90s on the radar gun and using an improving changeup as his “money pitch,” Kurokawa, a Maryknoll graduate, went 5-0 over his last six starts and allowed just six runs and 21 hits in his last 38 innings pitched for Top Speed, which won the league championship.
In 47 2/3 innings, he fanned 47 batters.
Vulcans coach Kallen Miyataki has holes to plug ahead of the 2016 season, but he’s encouraged that his No. 1 pitcher continues to get better.
“He’s our bright spot,” Miyataki said. “Now we just have to figure out how to get him some more support. We also have to get someone to finish for him.”
Michael Slifer closed at times as he finished his UHH career in 2015. Also Kurokawa’s teammate during the summer, Slifer won six games and compiled a 3.00 ERA.
“It’s tough, because (the Pacific West Conference) is so good,” said Miyataki, pointing out that four league teams made regionals. “It’s a good hitting league, and they’ve got guys closing games who are throwing hard, while we’re just mixing and matching.”
Vulcans senior David Moody finished eighth in the summer league’s Pitcher of the Year balloting, finishing with a 4.03 ERA.
