Lomavita, Shojinaga drafted into MLB

Saint Louis alum Caleb Lomavita, who turned down a significant professional contract offer out of high school to play three seasons at California, was rewarded for that decision.

The 5-foot-11 catching prospect was selected by the Washington Nationals with the 39th overall pick of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft on Sunday.

He is the eighth Hawaii high school graduate selected in the top 40 picks of an MLB Draft. The slot value for the No. 39 pick is listed at $2.395 million.

Lomavita, a two-time, All-Pac-12 first-team selection, had his junior season at Saint Louis wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic and played a limited senior season.

He was not selected in the 2021 MLB Draft after deciding he would attend college and not sign for what he was offered.

Lomavita was named a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American after his first season at Cal and made the Cape Cod League All-Star game both summers he played in it.

He is seventh on Cal’s career list in home runs with 38 and tied for ninth with 141 RBIs.

Lomavita is the 20th Crusader alum selected in the draft and the first since Aiva Arquette, who was drafted out of high school in 2022 but decided to attend Washington instead.

Kansas’ Kodey Shojinaga, a Mid-Pacific alum, was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Monday.

Shojinaga was taken with the 192nd overall pick as a catcher, but he also played second base for the Jayhawks.

In his two seasons at Kansas, Shojinaga hit .357 with 31 doubles, 11 homers 82 runs scored and 78 RBIs.

Normally players become draft-eligible after playing three years in college, but Shojinaga was draft-eligible after two years because of his age.

He is the first MPI alum taken in the draft since Wyatt Young in 2021.

Slot value for the 192nd pick is $310,300.

Shojinaga had a huge freshman year at Kansas when he was named a freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball, earning him a training camp invite for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.

It’s the second straight year the Phillies have used a draft pick on a Hawaii-born player. Philadelphia selected Hilo’s Devin Saltiban in the third round last year.

Shojinaga is the second Hawaii high school player taken in this years draft.

University of Hawaii baseball commit Christian Rodriguez, a left-handed pitcher who played at Cal State Fullerton last season, was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 10th round (No. 309 overall).

Rounds 11-20 begin today at 8 a.m.