ATLANTA – A trio of Hawai'i players got the call to the professional ranks, as Matthew Miura, Itsuki Takemoto and Freddy Rodriguez each heard their names called on day two of the MLB Draft Monday.
 
Miura was selected in the sixth round with the 180th overall pick by the St. Louis Cardinals while Takemoto was taken in the 19th round by the Athletics and Rodriguez went to the Chicago Cubs in the 20th round. This marks the first time since 2015 that three UH players were drafted in the same year and the most selected in one season since the draft was reduced to 20 rounds. It's also the most players taken in the same draft under head coach Rich Hill.
 
Miura becomes the highest drafted Rainbow Warrior player since 2020 (Jeremy Wu-Yelland) and the 34th player in program history to be selected in the top 10 rounds of the MLB Draft.
 
A second-team All-Big West selection as a junior in 2025, Miura led the team in batting average (.338), runs scored (53), hits (72), stolen bases (18) and walks (46). He also led the Big West in bases on balls and ranked 13th nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio, fanning just 20 times while walking 46 times.
 
The Honolulu native and Maryknoll School graduate has been a mainstay in center field for the last two seasons, starting 107 of the team's 109 games from 2024-25 in center. Miura committed just two errors in 255 career chances in the outfield and is a .311 career hitter over his three seasons in a Rainbow Warrior uniform. Miura also spent the summer playing for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks in the prestigious Cape Cod League, where he batted .309 with a homer, 12 RBIs and four doubles while going 7-for-8 in stolen base attempts.
 
A two-way standout throughout his two-year career in a Hawai'i uniform, Takemoto earned first-team All-Big West honors as a sophomore this past year in 2025. He made 14 starts on the mound this past season while also getting the nod in 30 games as the designated hitter. Takemoto struck out 57 batters over 67.1 innings while walking 22 and held the Friday night starter role for the majority of the season.
 
The native of Japan was also named the pitcher of the year in the prestigious Cape Cod League last summer and finished his two-year UH career with 94 strikeouts over 104.2 innings pitched. Takemoto also hit .263 with eight doubles and 25 career RBIs.
 
Rodriguez had an impactful first season as a Rainbow Warrior in 2025, leading the team with 26 appearances while finishing first on the team and second in the Big West in wins, going 7-2. He posted a 3.10 ERA with 52 strikeouts to just 16 walks over 52.1 innings and also recorded a pair of saves.
 
The West Sacramento, Calif. native was especially good at home, going 5-1 with a 1.59 ERA and 39 strikeouts to only five walks in 34.0 innings pitched at Les Murakami Stadium.
 
Additionally, Cory Ronan signed as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas city Royals. The left-handed pitcher came on strong down the stretch in 2025, finishing the season 4-2 with a 4.81 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 33.2 innings.