Hawai'i baseball head coach
Mike Trapasso announced the signing of nine players for the 2022 spring season, all nine of which are high school signees.
Trapasso reached across the Rocky Mountains to sign two players from the Midwest, the furthest east Trapasso has signed a high school recruit since 2015.
"We are excited and pleased with this recruiting class," Trapasso said. "Obviously the focus was on pitching, but we also wanted it to be an athletic group that will make an immediate impact. We feel we have that in these young men." Trapasso said. "I want to thank assistant coaches
Mike Brown and
Carl Fraticelli for their efforts. They did a tremendous job."
The signees for 2022 include three from the state of Hawai'i, two from Colorado, and one each from Arizona, California, Illinois and Wisconsin. The list is made up of seven pitchers, four of which are left-handed, and two infielders. They are right-handed pitcher
Cal Barna, left-handed pitcher
Junior Flores, left-handed pitcher
Harry Gustin, right-handed pitcher
Eli Hoyt, left-handed pitcher
Anu Reis, infielder
Bronson Rivera, left-handed pitcher
Cory Ronan, infielder
Kody Watanabe and right-handed pitcher
Ben Whipple.
The nine will play one more season for their respective schools before enrolling at Hawai'i in August of 2021 and playing in the 2022 season.
CAL BARNA
Right-handed pitcher - Piedmont, Calif. - Piedmont HS
THE PLAYER: The 6-3, 185 pound right handed pitcher already has next-level velocity as a senior in high school. The athletic mult-sport athlete was also the starting catcher before transitioning to the mound while also starting at quarterback for Piedmont.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Cal is an athletic RHP that has been up to 93mph. He has pitchability as well and could pitch meaningful innings for us right away." - Trapasso
JUNIOR FLORES
Left-handed pitcher - Phoenix, Ariz. - Mountain Pointe HS
THE PLAYER: The 5-10 left-handed pitcher posted a 2.33 ERA as a junior In 2020 in 3.0 innings pitched. In a full season as a sophomore, Flores finished with a 1.79 ERA in 15.2 innings with 15 strikeouts.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Junior is a lefty that throws from a low three-quarter angle. We're very excited about Junior and feel he will make an immediate impact as a freshman." - Trapasso
HARRY GUSTIN
Left-handed pitcher - Aurora, Colo.. - Smoky Hill HS
THE PLAYER: A 6-1 left-handed pitcher threw at the 2019 Power Showcase at Chase Field in Arizona and had a strong performance striking out three in 1.1 innings before being sidelined in 2020 due to injury.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Harry's best baseball is ahead of him. Athletic and loose, Harry has a tremendously high ceiling and could be special." - Trapasso
ELI HOYT
Right-handed pitcher - Waukesha, Wisc. - Waukesha South HS
THE PLAYER: A 6-1 right-handed pitcher who has touched 90 mph multiple times and competed at the PBR 17U National Championships in 2020. Hoyt continues to grow as he was measured at 5-11 just a couple months ago and 5-9 last spring. Hoyt is a multi-sport athlete that also competed in track and field at Waukesha South.
SCOUTING REPORT: "We're looking forward to Eli being a 'Bow. Very athletic 90 mph arm with feel." - Trapasso
ANU REIS
Left-handed pitcher / Outfielder - Mililani, O'ahu - Mililani HS
THE PLAYER: A 6-0 left-handed pitcher, Reis was throwing 83-85 less than a year ago, now throwing in the 90s. Reis pitched in the Sandlot League this summer in Hawai'i.
SCOUTING REPORT: "We're excited about Anu. A lefty that's touched 90 and is an incredibly hard worker. He gets better and better and has a chance to help us right away." - Trapasso
BRONSON RIVERA
Infielder - Kealakekua, Hawai'i - Konawaena HS
THE PLAYER: A 6-3 left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing infielder, Rivera hit .400 as a sophomore in 2019 with 16RBI and 13R. Had 6XBH (2HR) and 6SB in 2019. The infielder also pitched 11.2 innings with a 4.91 ERA as a sophomore. Rivera was club teammates with current freshman Safea Villaruz-Mauai.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Bronson's a physical left-handed hitting infielder that will be special. His tools are tremendous and he could be a definite professional prospect." - Trapasso
CORY RONAN
Left-handed pitcher - Jacksonville, Ill. - Routt Catholic HS
THE PLAYER: The 6-2 lefty has touched over 91mph as recently as October has made All-Tournament teams on the PerfectGame circuit since middle school and is a PerfectGame Preseason All-American entering his senior year. As a sophomore, Ronan posted a 1.03 ERA in 47.2 innings pitched with 86 strikeouts, almost double the next closest teammate.
SCOUTING REPORT: "One of the top ranked left handed pitchers in the Midwest, Cory can make an impact as a freshman. He has a chance to eventually be a high draft." - Trapasso
KODY WATANABE
Infielder - Aiea, O'ahu - 'Iolani School
THE PLAYER: The 5-10 middle infielder was the top ranked shortstop in the state of Hawaii by PerfectGame and won the 2017 Babe Ruth 14U Championship as an eighth grader.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Kody will help us right away. A left handed hitting infielder, Kody has a sweet swing and is a plus defender." - Trapasso
BEN WHIPPLE
Right-handed pitcher - Castle Pines, Colo. - Valor Christian HS
THE PLAYER: The grandson of NBA Hall of Famer Dan Issel, Whipple carries a 6-5 sturdy frame from Colorado. The righty posted a 1.63 ERA as a sophomore in his first season on the Valor Christian varsity squad. Whipple finished the year with 34.1 innings pitched and 33 strikeouts.
SCOUTING REPORT: "Ben's a strong, physical right hander. Has a high 80's fastball and plus curveball." - Trapasso
