Ocean Gabonia, a 2019 Hilo High graduate, signed a free agent contract Sunday with the New York Yankees, according to a Facebook post by his father, Ronald Gabonia.
Ocean Gabonia, a 2019 Hilo High graduate, signed a free agent contract Sunday with the New York Yankees, according to a Facebook post by his father, Ronald Gabonia.
The right-hander played college ball at Everett Community College in the state of Washington, where he was 0-2 with a 2.40 ERA in 15 innings over three starts. He struck out 23.
Gabonia was not listed on Baseball America’s or mlb.com’s top prospects lists.
No financial terms were revealed, but Major League Baseball teams were allowed to sign an unlimited number of free agents with a bonus up to $20,000, starting on Sunday. The MLB draft last week was cut from 40 to five rounds.
Gabonia made all-BIIF as a senior ace, helping the Vikings to the Division I title. In Game 1 of the championship series against Waiakea, he struck out eight over 7 1/3 innings in a 110-pitch effort.
