One of the first questions Kodi Medeiros faced as a professional ballplayer came slow and easy, offered at him quite a bit more relaxed than the pitches the left-hander delivers with violent velocity.
Reporter: “Does Milwaukee remind you of Hawaii? Very similar?”
Medeiros: “No, no it doesn’t,” as the room laughed. “It’s a lot colder here.”
And so the journey begins for the prized Waiakea High graduate.
Medeiros formally signed his contract with the Brewers on Saturday, according to MLB.com, agreeing to a $2.5 million bonus and $240,000 for future college expenses. The bonus was slightly below the slot figure assigned to the draft’s 12th overall pick, MLB.com said.
Milwaukee made Medeiros the highest-drafted high schooler from Hawaii on June 5. Earlier last week, Medeiros told Stephens Media Hawaii a Milwaukee scout clocked his fastball at 97 mph.
His next stop on what could prove to be a long road to the major leagues is expected to be rookie ball in Arizona. General manager Doug Melvin warned the team’s top three picks that baseball is “an emotional roller coaster. Don’t let it get to you.”
“Yes, I do have (the patience),” Medeiros said at an introductory news conference in Milwaukee posted on MLB.com. “I’m just going to work hard and do what I do, and hopefully make it back here as soon as possible.”
What he did as a senior was dominate.
Medeiros went 7-1 with an 0.97 ERA, helping the Warriors to the Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I title. In 43 1/3 innings, the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder struck out 83 batters while allowing only 14 hits with 17 walks.
Medeiros said he was soaking it all in Saturday at Miller Park as he got his first taste of life in the big leagues. He played catch with the Brewers’ pitchers in the outfield before Milwaukee’s 4-2 victory against the Cincinnati Reds.
“It’s just an unbelievable experience coming out of my high school season and coming straight to here,” he told reporters. “Coming from Hawaii to meet these players is really awesome.”