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IRVINE, Calif. — During Tuesday’s practice session, Hawaii pitcher Isaiah Magdaleno did a handstand.
And then another.
Why not? This baseball season, Magdaleno has turned the Big West world upside down with his, yes, Mag-nificent pitching. In his past three starts, Magdaleno has pitched to a 0.69 ERA and 0.31 WHIP while averaging 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings.
On Tuesday, Magdaleno and UH relief pitcher Tsubasa Tomii were named to the All-Big West first team.
“It’s a blessing, but I’ve got to keep working hard,” said Magdaleno, who also was named national pitcher of the week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Right-handed pitcher Hekili Robello was named to the second team.
Outfielder/first baseman Ben Zeigler-Namoa and third baseman Tate Shimao received honorable mention.
“To be all-conference in the Big West, which is the best baseball conference on the West Coast, is a tremendous honor,” UH coach Rich Hill said. “To be recognized is phenomenal. It’s a good representation.”
As a Crespi Carmelite High senior in 2023, Magdaleno was making the transition from catcher to pitcher when he caught the attention of then-UH pitching coach Matt Troupe.
“A little bit of a sore arm,” Hill recalled. “He was kind of flying under the radar. Their high school coach was emphatic that this guy was going to be a real dude. We scouted him, took a chance, and it paid off.”
After an uneven freshman season in 2024, Magdaleno became the ’Bows’ closer last year. This year, he moved back to the rotation, where he has excelled as the ’Bows’ series-opening starter.
“Just putting myself in a good spot and trying to stay consistent and being healthy,” Magdaleno said. “That’s been a really big goal of mine.”
Through weight training, Magdaleno has strengthened his legs and stabilized his upper body. He also has added three more pitches to his menu of 92-mph fastballs and all-direction changeups. Working with pitching coach Keith Zuniga, Magdaleno has gained confidence in his pitches and throwing with more intent. He adheres to a routine of studying, meditation, visualization and nourishment.
But he also allows for complementary workouts, such as borrowing from Yoshinobu Yamamoto 0f the Dodgers.
“Me and Tomii saw Yoshi do all the crazy mobility stuff,” Magdaleno said. “He does handstands backwards. I can’t do all that. We’re starting off small, starting off with the little stuff. Handstands, making sure my body’s able to move in a certain way. Just being able to do things with my body.”
In his first UH season, Tomii, the pitching hero for Japan in the 2017 Little League World Series, has a 1.56 ERA in 25 relief appearances, including 1.11 against Big West hitters.
“I’m so grateful and so very happy,” Tomii said of the first-team recognition. “I didn’t expect I was going to get first team. I was surprised, but so happy.”
Tomii relies on a cutter he developed after feeling his slider had too much movement. While playing catch with a Pima College teammate last year, he altered the grip and angle of his fastball.
“It actually worked, it looks like a cutter,” Tomii said. “I just found it.”
Robello, a Hilo High graduate, redshirted last season after transferring from Santa Rosa Junior College.
“I want to thank Coach (Zuniga) for everything he’s done,” Robello said. “He’s guided me through this whole season.”
Every Monday, Robello met with Zuniga and Garrett Clanin, UH’s director of student-athlete academic services. Zuniga then sent Hill a picture of the meeting. Robello now has a near 4.0 grade-point average and is on track to earn a bachelor’s degree next year.
“The academic success is the No. 1 thing and how he really matured,” Hill said. “The baseball thing really took care of itself.”
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And then another.
Why not? This baseball season, Magdaleno has turned the Big West world upside down with his, yes, Mag-nificent pitching. In his past three starts, Magdaleno has pitched to a 0.69 ERA and 0.31 WHIP while averaging 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings.
On Tuesday, Magdaleno and UH relief pitcher Tsubasa Tomii were named to the All-Big West first team.
“It’s a blessing, but I’ve got to keep working hard,” said Magdaleno, who also was named national pitcher of the week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Right-handed pitcher Hekili Robello was named to the second team.
Outfielder/first baseman Ben Zeigler-Namoa and third baseman Tate Shimao received honorable mention.
“To be all-conference in the Big West, which is the best baseball conference on the West Coast, is a tremendous honor,” UH coach Rich Hill said. “To be recognized is phenomenal. It’s a good representation.”
As a Crespi Carmelite High senior in 2023, Magdaleno was making the transition from catcher to pitcher when he caught the attention of then-UH pitching coach Matt Troupe.
“A little bit of a sore arm,” Hill recalled. “He was kind of flying under the radar. Their high school coach was emphatic that this guy was going to be a real dude. We scouted him, took a chance, and it paid off.”
After an uneven freshman season in 2024, Magdaleno became the ’Bows’ closer last year. This year, he moved back to the rotation, where he has excelled as the ’Bows’ series-opening starter.
“Just putting myself in a good spot and trying to stay consistent and being healthy,” Magdaleno said. “That’s been a really big goal of mine.”
Through weight training, Magdaleno has strengthened his legs and stabilized his upper body. He also has added three more pitches to his menu of 92-mph fastballs and all-direction changeups. Working with pitching coach Keith Zuniga, Magdaleno has gained confidence in his pitches and throwing with more intent. He adheres to a routine of studying, meditation, visualization and nourishment.
But he also allows for complementary workouts, such as borrowing from Yoshinobu Yamamoto 0f the Dodgers.
“Me and Tomii saw Yoshi do all the crazy mobility stuff,” Magdaleno said. “He does handstands backwards. I can’t do all that. We’re starting off small, starting off with the little stuff. Handstands, making sure my body’s able to move in a certain way. Just being able to do things with my body.”
In his first UH season, Tomii, the pitching hero for Japan in the 2017 Little League World Series, has a 1.56 ERA in 25 relief appearances, including 1.11 against Big West hitters.
“I’m so grateful and so very happy,” Tomii said of the first-team recognition. “I didn’t expect I was going to get first team. I was surprised, but so happy.”
Tomii relies on a cutter he developed after feeling his slider had too much movement. While playing catch with a Pima College teammate last year, he altered the grip and angle of his fastball.
“It actually worked, it looks like a cutter,” Tomii said. “I just found it.”
Robello, a Hilo High graduate, redshirted last season after transferring from Santa Rosa Junior College.
“I want to thank Coach (Zuniga) for everything he’s done,” Robello said. “He’s guided me through this whole season.”
Every Monday, Robello met with Zuniga and Garrett Clanin, UH’s director of student-athlete academic services. Zuniga then sent Hill a picture of the meeting. Robello now has a near 4.0 grade-point average and is on track to earn a bachelor’s degree next year.
“The academic success is the No. 1 thing and how he really matured,” Hill said. “The baseball thing really took care of itself.”
Continue reading...
