UH baseball reloads roster with transfers, prep grads
· Yahoo Sports
It has been an eventful offseason for the University of Hawaii baseball team.
Pitching coach Keith Zuniga departed to USC, and Dave Nakama opted to explore other opportunities after five seasons as hitting coach.
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Dallas Correa, who spent the past three years as the minor league catching coordinator for the Milwaukee Brewers, rejoined the Rainbow Warriors as associate head coach, pitching coordinator, catching coach and defensive coordinator.
Jordon Twohig has been promoted to hitting coach and recruiting director. Twohig also will coach third base, with head coach Rich Hill plotting strategy from the dugout. Hill is in the process of hiring two coaches to assist Twohig.
Only two prominent Rainbow Warriors entered the NCAA transfer portal, which closed at the end of June. Isaiah Magdaleno, who is projected to be selected in this month’s Major League Baseball draft, is using the portal as potential leverage in negotiations. Magdaleno has not signed with another NCAA team as a backup plan.
Right-handed pitcher Brody Martin-Grudzielanek also entered the portal but has not signed. There are 50-50 indications Martin-Grudzielanek will return to Manoa. Two potential draft picks — right-hander Hekili Robello and shortstop Elijah Ickes — did not enter the portal.
For their first year in the Mountain West after 14 Big West seasons, the ’Bows have restocked the roster with transfers and recent high school graduates. Some of the prospects will benefit from the new NCAA rule that will allow players five years to play five seasons, providing a bonus for fourth-year seniors. But UH coaches also are mindful some newcomers might be selected in the MLB draft.
For now, the ’Bows have added eight pitchers, including two from Big West schools; eight infielders; five outfielders and two catchers.
“When UH reached out to me, it almost felt like home before it became home,” said right-handed pitcher Josh Torres, who is transferring from UC Riverside. “They really showed how much they valued me.”
On May 1, Torres allowed a run in seven innings in losing a 1-0 duel against Magdaleno at Les Murakami Stadium. Torres was in a groove during which he pitched to a 1.36 ERA in five of his final six starts. After the game, fans asked to pose for selfies with Torres.
“Being in that atmosphere at the Les, that’s the biggest thing for me,” Torres said. “The fans’ support helps players succeed. It builds confidence, just all the good things a player wants.”
For Long Beach State’s Jake Fields, it will be a “fresh start” to join a former Big West rival.
“I wouldn’t trade my experiences (at Long Beach) for anywhere in the world,” Fields said. “I loved it there. I met some great people. I learned a lot about myself. At some point, you have to look out for your career. I needed a fresh start. That was the reason for me.”
Fresno City right-hander Nathan Leffel was named Perfect Game USA’s JUCO Pitcher of the Year after going 12-1 with a 1.91 ERA and 0.83 WHIP this past season. He averaged 11.89 strikeouts per nine innings from a blend of four-seam fastballs and two-seam changeups, sliders and cutters.
“The coaches at my school made it easy to (win the national award),” Leffel said. “My goal was to be the best starter in the nation. And I’ve always been confident in myself.”
Leffel, similar to Pac-Five’s Colten Amai Nakagawa, has been successful as a two-way player. But both are viewed more highly for their mound work. Amai Nakagawa was named the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Pitcher of the Year after compiling a 1.02 ERA against ILH opponents.
The incoming infielders include JC Osorio-Agard, who was San Jose State’s cleanup hitter; Bryson Glassco, who committed one error in 181 chances for Oregon State; Ohlone College’s Chuy “Jesus” Vasquez, who had 18 steals in 19 attempts; speedy Beau Musser of Los Gatos High and JC All-American David Estrada of West Valley Community College.
Among the top outfielders are Cal State Northridge transfer Andrew Becker, who hit .331 and was named to the All-Big West first team; Tanner Chun, a Saint Louis School graduate who played for Tulane; and Golden West College’s Levi Maddela.
The left-swinging Maddela has drawn comparisons to fellow Maui native Ben Zeigler-Namoa. Maddela hit .312 while striking out 24 times against 32 walks and four hit-by-pitches.
Maddela played for the ’Bows during the fall 2023 semester before embarking on the junior college circuit.
On returning to UH, Maddela said: “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to come back home and represent Hawaii. It’s always been a dream of mine to play at home and wear that jersey that says ‘Hawaii’ across my chest. My heart is to be at home.”
After a slow start to the 2026 season, Becker rebounded to hit safely in 28 of his final 32 games.
“Really honored for this opportunity,” Becker said. “I really love the coaching staff. I feel we really connected on a great level. Coming out there with the fan environment was amazing. I want to go out and win for Hawaii.”
Kaiser High alumnus Kanoa Morisaki also is fulfilling a childhood wish of playing for the ’Bows. The switch-hitter has played for the Roadrunners for three seasons.
Growing up, Morisaki said, “I thought it would mean so much to play for the state and the fans who come to the game.”
Incoming Rainbows
Player (Pos.)
Previous School
Notes
JC Osorio-Agard (INF)
San Jose State
43.7% of his hits went for extra bases
Destin Allen-Fox (LHP)
Grossmont CC
Averaged 14.5 Ks per nine innings
Colten Amai Nakagawa (RHP/OF)
Pac-Five
State Pitcher of the Year
Tyler Arnold (3B)
Hawaii Pacific
Career HR leader with 30 in 2 years
Andrew Becker (OF)
CSUN
2026 Big West 1st team
Tanner Chun (OF)
Saint Louis
Potential 16-for-20 in steals
David Estrada (IF)
West Valley CC
All-American averaged 1.51 RBIs per game
Jake Fields (RHP)
Long Beach State
4-seam fastball touches 95 mph
Bryson Glassco (SS)
Oregon State
1 error in 36 games
John Handy (C)
Folsom Lake CC
Slashed .379/.441/.615
Kameron Lee (RHP)
Golden West CC
8.96 Ks per 9 innings
Nathan Leffel (RHP)
Fresno City College
National JC pitcher of the year
Levi Maddela (1B/OF)
Golden West CC
Batted .312 with team-high 53 hits
Koa Marzo (OF)
Hilo High
6.7 sec. in 60-yard dash; OF throw of 91 mph
Jacob May (OF)
CSU Bakersfield
Leadoff batter hit .298 in 51 games
Kanoa Morisaki (C)
CSU Bakersfield
2023 Kaiser HS grad made 1 error in 51 games
Beau Musser (SS)
Los Gatos HS
Hit .360 as senior
Makani Nabarro (OF)
Cuesta CC
Hit .305, 6 HRs
Shiryu Sato (INF)
Cochise CC
Slashed .349/.502/.635
Ethan Silva (INF)
Saint Mary’s HS
Hit .369 with 6 HRs
Joseph Steventon (RHP)
Wagner
5-2, 4.55 ERA in 11 league starts
Josh Torres (RHP)
UC Riverside
1 run in 7 IP vs. Hawaii
Chuy “Jesus” Vasquez (SS)
Ohlone CC
Slashed .412/.502/.548