For Scrappers’ Tom, aloha means hello to pros

July 6, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

NILES

The everyday rigors of minor league baseball can take its toll on the best of players.

Long bus rides and few days off make for quite a transition, especially for those coming straight out of college.

However, the way Ka’ai Tom views things, the demanding schedule presents opportunities – lots of opportunities.

Tom and his Mahoning Valley Scrappers teammates on Sunday fell to Aberdeen 4-3 in front of 2,389 fans at Eastwood Field.

The Scrappers continue to struggle both at home and at home plate. They are just 1-6 at Eastwood Field, with a team batting average of just .234.

Sunday, the Scrappers fell to 5-11, thanks in large part to the clutch hitting of Mike Odenwaelder. The Aberdeen right fielder plated two RBI with a pair of two-out base hits.

Scrappers pitchers limited Aberdeen to just seven hits, but gave up nine of the 16 walks issued in the game. The Scrappers’ offense collected just seven hits, was 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position, and left nine runners on base.

Yet while it may be easy for some players to simply look for excuses, Tom only seeks to continue to improve his game.

“It’s definitely an adjustment, the travel and playing every day takes some getting used to,” said the Scrappers left fielder. “But it’s a great feeling knowing you get to go right back at it the next day. I love it.”

“The way I see it, if you struggle one night, you get a chance to come right back the next day and correct your mistake. If you have a strong night, you come right back and feed off your energy.”

Tom grew up in Kaneohe, Hawaii, where for him baseball was a way of life. He didn’t get many collegiate offers, and ended up playing at Fort Scott Junior College. Following a solid freshman season, Tom earned a scholarship at the University of Kentucky.

“It was a dream come true, playing for the Wildcats and playing in the SEC,” Tom said. “Growing up in Hawaii, it used to be a challenge to get noticed. But the game is extremely competitive back home. Now you have guys like Shane Victorino [Boston] and Kolton Wong [St. Louis] from Hawaii playing in the big leagues, and people are taking notice.”

Tom, a 5-foot-9, 185-pound left-handed hitter, hit .352 in two seasons with the Wildcats. Tom had 148 career hits, the second-most hits for a two-year UK player in program history. He reached base safely in 51 of his 55 games in 2015 and in 99 of his 109 career games.

This past June, Tom was selected in the fifth round (154 overall) of the Major League draft by the Cleveland Indians.

“I was lucky, I was in the right place at the right time when Kentucky needed an outfielder,” Tom said. “I always felt like if I had an opportunity to show off my talents, I’d have a chance to move up the ladder.”

Tom grew up rooting for both the Red Sox [his brother’s favorite team] and the Yankees [his mom is a Derek Jeter fan], and says he “admired the way Jeter approached the game.” He had the advantage of following baseball from a time zone where major league games began either in the early afternoon or late morning.

“It was great, I’d come home from school and baseball would be on, or on weekends I would wake up to baseball,” Tom said. “Baseball has always been my passion.”

Tom is batting .256. He went 3-for-4 on Saturday, but was 0-for-4 Sunday.

“Baseball is an everyday grind, and you have to fight through it if you are going to succeed long term,” Tom said.

The Scrappers and Ironbirds conclude their three-game series tonight at 7:05.