Kila Kaʻaihue
Kila Kaʻaihue | |
---|---|
![]() Ka'aihue with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 2013 | |
First baseman / Designated hitter | |
Born: Kailua, Hawaii | March 29, 1984|
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
Professional debut | |
MLB: September 4, 2008, for the Kansas City Royals | |
NPB: 2013, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp | |
Last appearance | |
MLB: June 5, 2012, for the Oakland Athletics | |
NPB: 2014, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .221 |
Home runs | 15 |
Runs batted in | 46 |
NPB statistics | |
Batting average | .258 |
Home runs | 25 |
Runs batted in | 85 |
Teams | |
Micah Kilakila Kaʻaihue (/ˈkiːlə kəʔaɪˈhuːeɪ/;[1] born March 29, 1984) is a former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. Kaʻaihue went to Iolani School in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Professional career[edit]
Kansas City Royals[edit]
He was drafted by the Royals in the 15th round (438th overall) of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft.[2]
He played for the Gulf Coast Royals in 2002, Single-A Burlington Bees in 2003 and 2004, and the Single-A Advanced High Desert Mavericks in 2005. In 2006, he played for the Double-A Wichita Wranglers.[2]
Kaʻaihue split 2007 between the Single-A Advanced Wilmington Blue Rocks and Wichita. In 2008, Kaʻaihue played for Kansas City's new Double-A affiliate, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. There, he led the minor leagues in walks, with 104.[3] He also played for the Triple-A Omaha Royals.
When rosters expanded on September 1, 2008, Kaʻaihue was called up to the major leagues. He made his major league debut on September 4, 2008. He hit his first major league home run on September 20, 2008.[4]
Kaʻaihue spent the entire 2009 season in Omaha. He began the 2010 season in Omaha, and was called up to Kansas City in May. In his first Major League at bat that season, he pinch hit for Willie Bloomquist in the 8th inning of a May 6 game against the Texas Rangers, and hit an RBI single that broke an 11-11 tie. After having a disappointing start of the season Kila started getting hot finishing the 2010 Royals season with 8 home runs and 25 runs batted in.
Kaʻaihue started the 2011 season as the regular first baseman for the Kansas City Royals. He hit a walk-off home run on April 1 as the Royals beat the Angels 2-1. Mired in a hitting slump from the start of the season, averaging just .195 in 23 games, with only six RBIs and two homers, Kaʻaihue was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on May 5. Eric Hosmer was called up to replace him.[5] He was designated for assignment on September 21, 2011.[6]
Oakland Athletics[edit]
![](http://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20220121113040im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Kila_Ka%27aihue_on_April_29%2C_2012.jpg/180px-Kila_Ka%27aihue_on_April_29%2C_2012.jpg)
On September 27, 2011, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics for minor league pitcher Ethan Hollingsworth. On June 6, 2012, he was designated for assignment.[7] In 39 games for the Athletics, he hit .234/.295/.398 with 4 HR and 14 RBI.
Arizona Diamondbacks[edit]
On November 21, 2012, Kaʻaihue signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but was released from the Reno Aces, Arizona's Triple-A affiliate, on June 1, 2013. He led the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in home runs.[8]
Hiroshima Toyo Carp[edit]
On June 15, 2013, Kaʻaihue signed with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Japan.
Washington Nationals[edit]
On January 18, 2015, he signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals.[9] He was released on May 24 after hitting just .194 in the minors.[10]
Miami Marlins[edit]
On June 22, 2015, he signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins.
Coaching career[edit]
In July 2016 Ka'aihue accepted the head coaching job at Henry J. Kaiser High School. Upon the completion of his degree in accounting in 2020, Kaʻaihue joined the coaching staff at Hawaii as a volunteer assistant.[11]
Personal[edit]
Kaʻaihue's younger brother, Kala Ka'aihue, is a minor league baseball first baseman. He is of Hawaiian descent.
References[edit]
- ^ "- YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ a b Kila Kaʻaihue Batting Statistics Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ White, Rob (July 20, 2010). "Baseball: Kaʻaihue waiting it out with Royals". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ Falkoff, Robert (September 21, 2008). "Royals crown White Sox behind Davies". mlb.com. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
- ^ Dutton, Bob (May 5, 2011). "Royals call up Hosmer, send Kaʻaihue to Omaha". Kansas City Star. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
- ^ "Royals designate Ka'aihue for assignment to clear space for Herrera - KansasCity.com". web.archive.org. 2011-11-28. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ "A's acquire Kila Ka'aihue in trade with Royals | MLB.com: News". Archived from the original on 2011-09-28.
- ^ Nicholson-Smith, Ben (November 21, 2012). "Minor Moves: Ka'aihue, Hinshaw, Luna, Pirates". MLB Trade Rumors.
- ^ Baer, Bill (2015-01-19). "Nationals sign Kila Ka'aihue to a minor league deal". MLB | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ "Minor Moves: Ka'aihue, Roe, Bianchi". MLB Trade Rumors. May 24, 2015. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ "Former Big Leaguer Joins Coaching Staff". University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kila Ka'aihue. |
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- 1984 births
- Living people
- Baseball coaches from Hawaii
- American expatriate baseball players in Japan
- Baseball players from Hawaii
- Burlington Bees players
- Gulf Coast Royals players
- Hawaii Rainbow Warriors baseball coaches
- High Desert Mavericks players
- High school baseball coaches in the United States
- Hiroshima Toyo Carp players
- Kansas City Royals players
- Leones del Escogido players
- American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic
- Major League Baseball first basemen
- New Orleans Zephyrs players
- Nippon Professional Baseball first basemen
- Northwest Arkansas Naturals players
- Oakland Athletics players
- Omaha Royals players
- Omaha Storm Chasers players
- Reno Aces players
- Sacramento River Cats players
- Surprise Rafters players
- Syracuse Chiefs players
- Wichita Wranglers players
- Wilmington Blue Rocks players
- Native Hawaiian sportspeople