CLEVELAND—There have been only 49 major league players from the 50th state, and Wehiwa Aloy would like to become the 50th, which would be a nice symmetry. Aloy, a shortstop from Arkansas, and Aiva Arquette, an infielder from Oregon State, selected seventh overall by Miami, are eager to increase Hawaii’s presence in the major leagues.
Aloy, who was selected 31st overall by the Orioles, signed for a reported $3,042,800.
“We played against each other in high school and knew him growing up,” Aloy said on a video conference call on Wednesday. “Kind of showing the kids back home that it’s possible.”
The Orioles have had four native Hawaiians — pitchers Scott Feldman, Sid Fernandez and Rico Garcia, and utility player Lenn Sakata, who played for the 1983 World Series champions. None was drafted by the Orioles.
“I feel like it was not really known for kind of Hawaii kids to go out there and go to the mainland and just take opportunities to be in sports or anything like that,” Aloy said. “So it’s just very cool.”
Aloy played his freshman season at Sacramento State before moving for two seasons to Arkansas. As a junior, he hit .350 with a 1.107 OPS, 21 home runs and 68 RBIs and won the Golden Spikes Award for best college player.
“Wehiwa is an adaptive athlete,” his agent, Scott Boras, said. “He is someone that really has evolved in the collegiate world and going from Sac State to Arkansas, facing velocity, and also facing an SEC opponent where you’re on an infield playing in front of an audience.
“So the idea of who he’s alike is probably your more athletic major leaguers, where he’s got power to the opposite field, power to the gaps. He’s got arm strength. But the truth of it is that what player Wehiwa will end up being will be one where you’re looking at athletes who come to the major leagues and you’re finding that they’re most adaptive.”
Aloy has played only shortstop in college, and would like to stay there with the Orioles.
“As long as possible, I think shortstop would be the decision and in the long run, just wherever they need me,” he said.
Always ready with a comparison, Boras had one in mind for Aloy.
“It reminds me of not in form because Wehiwa obviously is bigger and more stronger than he was in college, but Trea Turner was an athlete that played center field, played shortstop, that really can play most anywhere on the infield,” he said.
“And Wehiwa has that touch power, where he has the ability to really drive the baseball to the opposite field with power. So it’s something that adds to an organization where you get someone that is very offensive-inclined with power but they can play in the dirt, really play anywhere.”
Boras was taken with the Aloy family and his background.
“When you go through the process that Wehiwa’s gone through, from high school to college, being a player in Hawaii where the colleges didn’t really address him initially to know his abilities,” he said. “And then he got some great coaching at Sac State, and then he advanced. And then he goes to Arkansas and he advances even further.
“So it says a lot about his adaptiveness, his intellect, his willingness to take a challenge. Really, that’s why pro ball I think will be great for Wehiwa, because each step of the way he’s enjoyed, he’s accomplished, and he’s had a personality where he’s just really got the character to take on the struggles of it, achieve it, overcome it. And the other thing about the Aloy family is that you’re just not going to find a more positive group. They bring a culture to them that I think is very rewarding to a locker room and I think the Oriole organization is certainly going to enjoy Wehiwa and the Aloy family that comes with it.”
Eflin back, Young down: The Orioles reinstated Zach Eflin from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday night’s game against the Cleveland Guardians. Brandon Young, who started Tuesday night’s game, was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
Young is 0-5 with a 7.34 ERA in seven starts.
“I think he got better,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “He kept getting stuck at that 70-pitch mark … As he goes, he’s going to get built up and get his full strength back and navigating that third time [through the order] better. I was impressed with him, with what he did … He’s a guy we have big plans for.”
The Orioles transferred catcher Maverick Handley from the 7-day concussion list to the 10-day injured list because of a sprained right wrist.
“I don’t think pretty serious,” Mansolino said. “I think there was concern initially that it might be serious. The initial rounds of testing were negative on that. It wasn’t as bad as they thought.”
Notes: Tyler O’Neill is still sore, but Mansolino thinks he’ll be available off the bench for Wednesday night’s game and start on Thursday. … First baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who’s on the 60-day injured list with a strained right hamstring, will begin his rehab assignment at Norfolk on Thursday. … Right-hander Scott Blewett, who’s on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort, has gotten positive news about the elbow and will start throwing in Sarasota soon. -… Ryan Long gave up just one hit in five scoreless innings, striking out one as Double-A Chesapeake beat Altoona, 6-3. Centerfielder Douglas Hodo drove in two.
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