Honolulu native Kodey Shojinaga taken by Phillies on Day 2 of 2024 MLB Draft

Kansas second baseman Kodey Shojinaga, a Mid-Pacific Institute alumnus, was taken by the Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth round of the 2024 MLB Draft on Monday.

Shojinaga was selected as a catcher with the 192^nd overall pick after also playing behind the plate for the Jayhawks. The draft slot was valued at $310,300, per MLB.

He played two seasons in Lawrence and distinguished himself in 2023, when he set a program record for a freshman with a .378 batting average. He was the Big 12 Co-Freshman of the Year and earned an invitation to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team training camp.

A second straight second-team All-Big 12 honor followed this spring, after the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Shojinaga batted .339. He had six four-hit games, including KU’s final game of the year in the semifinals of the Big 12 tournament. His 46 RBIs surpassed the 32 he tallied as a freshman. He hit 11 home runs over the two years.

Shojinaga is the second player with Hawaii ties taken in the draft. Cal catcher Caleb Lomavita was taken by the Washington Nationals with the 39^th overall pick on Sunday.

The draft concludes Tuesday with rounds 11 through 20.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.