This week was huge for local baseball.
Three Big Island players — Casey Yamauchi, Maui Ahuna and Devin Saltiban — got their calls to join MLB organizations.
Saltiban was drafted in the third round by the Philadelphia Phillies, Ahuna was a fourth-round pick by the San Francisco Giants and Yamauchi signed undrafted with the Oakland Athletics.
All three were students of Kaha Wong and spent their youth looking up to his sons — Kolten and Kean — who joined the MLB 10 and seven years ago, respectively.
Devin Saltiban
Saltiban — nicknamed “Da Hawaiian Salt” — is only 18 years old and graduated from Hilo High School this spring. He was drafted in the third round as the No. 98 overall pick, valued at $685,100.
The call from Philly was the culmination of a lifetime’s work, and proved valid the hype that grew around town throughout the season as spectators sighted MLB scouts at Saltiban’s games.
“It took a lot of hard work to get here,” Saltiban said. “I’m just having fun and trying to take it in slowly. I’m excited, it’s just a blessing that I got the call.”
The experience felt just as unreal to his family, who invested countless hours in supporting their son’s talent and passion.
“When it happened, it was so exciting,” his father, Donald Saltiban said. “I’m so proud as a dad. All his hard work, everything he’s worked for is finally a reality.”
Saltiban’s mother, Evie Saltiban, said that she knew something was special about him since the day he was born.
“When I gave birth to Devin, his hands were the first thing that I noticed,” she said. “I told my husband ‘look at his hands, there’s something different about his hands.’ I said ‘I think he’s gonna be something different.’
“At tee-ball, we had some family friends who walked him through what was a tee, what was a bat — and he never looked back. He would be at the fence at his brother Donald’s games, just watching and taking it all in, and applying it to himself.”
Saltiban’s most ecstatic family member was his little brother, Drake, who plays PONY League baseball.
“He couldn’t believe it, he was just so excited,” Evie said. “Jumping around like a little bunny, it was the cutest thing to see. He was actually crying, and he just can’t wait to get started back with his season.”
Saltiban had his official signing this weekend in Philadelphia. After watching a couple of games against the Padres, he will head to Florida for training camps.
Maui Ahuna
Unlike Saltiban, who has been thrust into the national spotlight fresh out of high school, fellow Hilo HS alumnus Maui Ahuna has been getting widespread attention for years now.
Most recently, the Tennessee shortstop turned heads at the College World Series and the Hattiesburg Super Regional — where he hit an opposite-field home run to boost the Vols’ victory over Southern Miss, which clinched their CWS berth.
He was picked up by San Francisco in the fourth round as the No. 117 overall pick., valued at $569,100. Ahuna was one of eight Vols to get picked during the 2023 Draft.
Though happy for Ahuna’s success, Kaha Wong was disappointed by the fact that he wasn’t drafted during an earlier round.
“He’s a much better player than the fourth round,” Wong said. “He’s proven himself year after year, he came out of high school and went to Kansas, did great there. Then went to Tennessee and went to the World Series, and did really good there. What else can you do? Of course he’s a first-rounder, that’s the only thing I’m mad about.”
Sports Illustrated’s Marc Delucci wrote in an article published Tuesday that “Ahuna was considered a potential top-10 pick in the draft after an exceptional 2022 season at Kansas. He hit .396/.479/.634, but struggled mightily against more advanced competition at the Cape Cod League.”
Some members of Ahuna’s family also felt that he was undervalued, but it ultimately did not deter their excitement for his success.
“Everyone’s just really proud,” father Bully Ahuna said. “His sisters are ecstatic because he’s the baby of the family. His three older sisters are ecstatic.
“He was ranked No. 48. The whole week, agents kept saying ‘this team might take him in the second round.’ Then it fell through the second, and the third round went by and we started to get worried. We’re still grateful that Maui has the opportunity to go play in the major leagues, and hopefully he makes it.”
Casey Yamauchi
Yamauchi earned the title of UH-Hilo’s 2023 Male Athlete of the Year. The infielder set career program records in runs, hits, doubles and steals.
The Waiakea HS alumnus graduated from UH-Hilo this spring, and was one of the Vulcans’ best players this season.
After going undrafted, the A’s bought his contract on Wednesday while he was traveling to play in the Draft League.
“It’s a dream come true,” Yamauchi said. “Growing up watching Kolten on TV and now having the opportunity to follow in his footsteps. Thank you to Coach Kaha, who got me the opportunity to play in the MLB Draft League — and now I’m with the Oakland A’s. It feels good.”
Yamauchi is the fourteenth player since Kolten Wong to pass through Kaha Wong’s hands and into the MLB.
“That’s a good thing for Hilo, that’s three kids,” coach Wong said. “I worked with (Yamauchi) a lot when he was young. He was always a smart hitter, a smart player. He wasn’t big in size, but he knows the game well.”
What makes Yamauchi’s signing even more special is his familiarity with Saltiban, Ahuna and their families.
“His dad called me and said ‘Hey, Casey got the deal with the A’s,’” Ahuna’s father said. “That’s a kid I coached. I watched a lot of his UH games, I went to UH-Hilo games just to watch him because I love that kid. That kid is one hustler. I’m so happy for him, just as happy for him as I am for my son.”
Wong said that Yamauchi’s future with the A’s came into motion when a scout saw him at a Big Island Wood Bat Academy showcase in May.
“He plays like the Oakland A’s,” Wong said. “Hard, everything is 100%. That’s what they like. That’s how he did it at 9 years old and that’s how he’s doing it now at 22.”