Joey Jarneski first earned a reputation as a big-game pitcher in the summer of 2014 when he led a Hilo PONY League team to a World Series championship in Pennsylvania.
A few hours after striking out 11 in a complete game and hitting a home run in the clincher, Jarneski told the Tribune-Herald, “This is my greatest accomplishment.”
Yet.
That was a childhood dream, but Jarneski managed to top that Wednesday when the recent Hilo High graduate was selected in the 12th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Texas Rangers.
“This is fulfilling a lifelong dream,” he told the Tribune-Herald. “All the hard work has paid off.”
Jarneski, the BIIF Division I Player of the Year, said he would forgo his original plan, an opportunity to pitch at Connors State College in Oklahoma for a season then transfer to Kentucky, and instead will prepare to head to Arizona for rookie ball with Texas’ affiliate. The season start June 25.
“School will always be there,” Jarneski said in an appearance with Josh Pacheco on ESPN Radio.
Jarneski is the first Big Islander to be drafted out of high school since former Vikings teammate Jodd Carter was selected in the 24th round in 2014 – Waiakea’s Kodi Medeiros went in the first round two days earlier – and he’s set to become the fifth Hilo farmhand in the minor leagues, also joining Waiakea grads Kean Wong and Quintin Torres-Costa (who was drafted out of UH-Manoa).
“Kodi, Kean and Jodd were texting me,” Jarneski told the Tribune-Herald, “telling me that if I need any help, just to let them know.
The first 10 rounds of the 40-round draft were held Monday and Tuesday, but for Jarneski the suspense ended Wednesday morning when he saw that he had been selected with the 374th pick. Minutes later, Rangers scout Steve Flores called to congratulate him.
“I was kind of surprised I went so early Wednesday, but I kind of expected it,” Jarneski said. “Coach Kaha Wong has been helping me through the process and telling me what to expect.”
The Rangers were among the teams Jarneski saw scouting him this season at Wong Stadium, first at the Stanley Costales Sr. Invitational Baseball Tournament in February, and later during the BIIF championships in April.
As a senior and fourth year as Hilo’s ace, the 6-foot, 190-pound right-hander went 2-2 with a 3.13 ERA in 24 2/3 innings. He allowed 26 hits, walked five and struck out 21, all the while maintaining the reputation as a big-game pitcher, firing a three-hitter in Game 1 against Waiakea as Hilo went on to win BIIFs.
“(Flores) told me he likes how I’ve developed over the years and how I command my pitches,” Jarneski said.
Texas loaded up on pitchers Wednesday, taking 22 in rounds 11-40 and 28 in all.
MLB assigns a salary bonus slot for only the first 10 rounds, with the last pick in the 10th round, No. 315 overall, getting $131,300.
Including UH-Hilo graduate Jordan Kurokawa, who was picked by the Philadelphia Phillies last season before being released earlier this year, a player with Hilo has ties has been selected in five of the past six drafts.
Jarneski was able to celebrate his moment with, among other people, his father, Stacey.
“He was excited and happy for me,” Jarneski said. “He’s helped me so much to become the player I am.”
RBI alums
While Jarneski cut his teeth in PONY Baseball, two players with Nobu Yamauchi RBI Baseball ties have had notable weeks.
Left-hander Ryley Widell of Maui played with the program in 2013, and Tuesday he became the first King Kekaulike graduate ever selected in the MLB draft. Widell pitched this past season at Central Arizona College after spending his freshman season at Washington State, and he was plucked up by the Minnesota Twins to lead off the seventh round (No. 196 overall).
One of his former teammates in 2013 was Keli’i Montibon, a four-year RBI veteran who went on to become a BIIF standout in football on the offensive line at Kamehameha. On Tuesday, Montibon announced he committed to play at Oregon State this coming season after spending a year at Riverside (Calif.) C.C.
