Maui Ahuna

Maui Ahuna
Ahuna with Tennessee in 2023
San Francisco Giants
Shortstop
Born: (2002-03-11) March 11, 2002 (age 22)
Hilo, Hawaii, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right

Walter Clyde "Maui" Ahuna (born March 11, 2002) is an American professional baseball shortstop in the San Francisco Giants organization.

Amateur career

Ahuna went to Hilo High School, where he would play baseball. As a junior in 2019, he batted .531.[1] After going unselected in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft he enrolled at Kansas University to play college baseball for the Kansas Jayhawks.

Ahuna went into the 2021 season being the Jayhawks' starting shortstop, and he was named the Big 12 Conference Newcomer of Week once during the season.[2] He finished the season having started fifty games while batting .316 with one home run, 25 RBIs, and 11 doubles. That summer, he played for both the Burlington Sock Puppets of the Appalachian League and the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3][4][5] Ahuna returned as the Jayhawks' starting shortstop for the 2022 season.[6][7] Over 53 games, he hit .396 with eight home runs, 48 RBIs, and 16 doubles.[8][9] Following the season's end, Ahuna announced he would be entering the transfer portal.[10][11][12] He then announced he would be transferring to the University of Tennessee.[13] He briefly returned to play for Falmouth that summer alongside playing for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.[14][15]

Ahuna did not play with Tennessee during the first eight games of the 2023 season, as he had to wait through a compliance delay.[16] However he was later ruled eligible.[17]

Professional career

Ahuna was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the fourth round, with the 117th overall selection, of the 2023 Major League Baseball draft. On July 25, 2023, Ahuna signed with the Giants for a below slot deal worth $500,000.[18]

References

  1. ^ Jakahi, Kevin (June 11, 2019). "All-BIIF baseball: Hilo High's Ahuna bags big prize in D-I". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  2. ^ Yendro, Bradley (March 22, 2021). "Impressive weekend hitting performance for Maui Ahuna earns him Big 12 Newcomer of the Week". The University Daily Kansan.
  3. ^ "Maui Ahuna". pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  4. ^ "Burlington Sock Puppets announce inaugural roster". MLB.com.
  5. ^ "'It kind of gives me a little escape from reality': Baseball on the Cape a welcome summertime salve - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. July 4, 2021.
  6. ^ "'Bring it on': Kansas' Maui Ahuna embraces simple approach to find baseball success". KUsports.com. May 14, 2022.
  7. ^ Hull, Billy (March 30, 2022). "Hawaii Grown Report: Hilo's Maui Ahuna is a big hit for the Kansas baseball team". Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
  8. ^ Wilson, Mike (June 9, 2022). "Tony Vitello's pitch to make Tennessee baseball's roster even better in transfer portal". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  9. ^ "Maui Ahuna, Tennessee baseball newcomers in spotlight as preseason begins". September 30, 2022.
  10. ^ Hull, Billy (May 25, 2022). "Kansas star and Hilo alum Maui Ahuna enters transfer portal". Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
  11. ^ "After tearing it up at Kansas, Hilo High grad Ahuna enters transfer portal". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. May 25, 2022.
  12. ^ "Hilo's Maui Ahuna enters NCAA transfer portal". May 24, 2022.
  13. ^ "Tennessee baseball gets transfer 2023 MLB Draft prospect to commit". wbir.com. June 10, 2022.
  14. ^ Pontes, Geoff. "Falmouth Commodores 2022 Cape Cod League Preview". www.baseballamerica.com.
  15. ^ "USA Baseball Names 2022 Collegiate National Team Roster". USA Baseball.
  16. ^ "Tony Vitello's reinstated from suspension, Tennessee baseball coach returning Tuesday". February 27, 2023.
  17. ^ "Maui Ahuna ruled eligible for Tennessee baseball, will debut against Charleston Southern". February 27, 2023.
  18. ^ Wilson, Mike (July 25, 2023). "Tennessee's Maui Ahuna signs with San Francisco Giants hours before MLB Draft signing deadline". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved June 27, 2024.