The 2026 MLB Draft concluded with rounds 5-20 on Sunday, with five players with Hawai‘i ties getting selected.
Up first was Arizona State senior and Saint Louis alumnus Nu‘u Contrades, who was taken in the sixth round with the 186th overall pick by the San Diego Padres.
A pair of Baldwin alums were taken a round apart from each other in University of Hawai‘i senior standout Ben Zeigler-Namoa, who was taken in the 10th round by the Atlanta Braves. Arkansas junior Kuhio Aloy followed in the 11th round when he was selected by the New York Mets with the 330th overall selection.
Additionally, Seattle University pitcher and Maui High School alumnus Luke Alwood was taken in the 10th round by the Chicago Cubs with the 307th overall selection.
Rounding out the Island ties was former University of Hawai‘i outfielder Jack Salmon, who transferred to UNLV prior to the 2026 season and was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 19th round.
Zeigler-Namoa woke up at 4 a.m. to keep track of the draft online, then received a call from his agent telling him the Braves were preparing to take him in between rounds 8-10.
"It was obviously shock," Zeigler-Namoa told Aloha State Daily of his reaction. "Didn't expect that to happen. I was just grateful to have my mom right next to me."
Zeigler-Namoa came to UH as a pro prospect out of Yavapai College in Arizona. He remained on the radar of scouts in each of his four years as a Rainbow Warrior. Though getting selected as a fifth-year senior was a relief, he also acknowledged he was picked as a senior sign, meaning he'll earn significantly less than the $198,300 bonus slot value of his pick.
With the Braves organization, Zeigler-Namoa says he was told he'd be playing a lot of first base. At Hawai‘i, he played all three outfield positions in addition to first base. He even pitched during his first season with UH in 2023.
Ever since UH's season ended on May 20 at the Big West Conference tournament, Zeigler-Namoa says he was able to stay sharp by working the program's keiki camps during the summer.
"The kids have been keeping me in shape, making me run around and yell and do things like I'm playing baseball. And then I've been training on my own after, which has been really nice, and I've had the honor of having the coaching staff around to help me out, too," Zeigler-Namoa said. "It's been great."
One of the first calls Zeigler-Namoa made after getting drafted was to former UH teammate Austin Machado, who signed with Atlanta as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 season as a junior. Machado is currently with the Augusta GreenJackets, the Single-A affiliate of the Braves.
In the days ahead, Zeigler-Namoa is expected to sign, then receive his minor league assignment. Starting his journey in pro ball has been a long time coming, but the wait is finally over.
"I'm grateful for everyone I've met throughout the journey so far, and I hope to continue to represent Hawai‘i in the best way possible," he said.
Additionally, UH pitcher John Alikre II signed with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent on Sunday. On Monday morning, former Hawai‘i ace pitcher Isaiah Magdaleno signed a free agent deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.
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Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
