​Four players with Hawaii ties were picked on Sunday in the second phase of the Major League Baseball Draft. The Atlanta Braves selected Ben Zeigler-Namoa from the University of Hawaii in the 10th round, the 292nd overall choice, which MLB.com estimated to carry a slot value of $198,000. Zeigler-Namoa, who grew up on Maui as a Baldwin High School graduate, became the first UH player taken in the two-day draft that began Saturday with the first four rounds and continued Sunday with rounds five through 20.
The first Hawaii player chosen in the draft was shortstop Nu’u Contrades, a Saint Louis School alumnus who played at Arizona State. An All-Big 12 selection this past season, Contrades went to the San Diego Padres in the sixth round, the 186th pick, with a slot value of $350,100. Former Baldwin hitter Kuhio Aloy, who played for Arkansas, went to the New York Mets in the 11th round, 330th overall. The selection carried a pick value that year.
Jack Salmon, an outfielder who played at UNLV this season after transferring from UH, went to the Los Angeles Angels in the 19th round. Salmon’s uncle is Angels legend Tim Salmon.
Isaiah Magdaleno, Hawaii’s ace pitcher, did not hear his name called among the 613 picks across 20 rounds. Magdaleno, who was Baseball America’s All-America third-team pick, entered the transfer portal partially as leverage in negotiations but did not sign with another school. He now has several pathways: he can sign a free-agent deal with an MLB organization, transfer to another NCAA program, or return for a fourth season with UH.
Zeigler-Namoa, a Baldwin High graduate who spent his youth on Maui, said he was surprised to be chosen by the Braves. He had not been picked in the 2025 draft after what had been his most productive season as a Rainbow Warrior. “First off, just grateful for everything that’s happened,” Zeigler-Namoa said. He played as both a first baseman and an outfielder this past season. He began his college career at Yavapai Community College in Arizona in 2022 before transferring to UH. After leading UH with hits, RBIs, doubles and slugging in 2025, he was expecting to be drafted that year. When he was overlooked, he elected to take advantage of a waiver that allowed a fourth season with UH this year, during which he hit .294 and committed only three errors in 266 chances.
Throughout the process, the Braves had remained in contact with Zeigler-Namoa over the years. “I never went to a workout with the Braves,” Zeigler-Namoa said. “To say I expected the Braves was definitely not what I was expecting. But I’m grateful.” Zeigler-Namoa and his mother had been following the draft via the MLB app on his television when, late in the seventh round, the Braves notified his agent that he would be selected in the eighth, ninth or 10th round.