Kila Ka’aihue Stats & Scouting Report

AB	411
AVG	.221
OBP	.305
SLG	.382
HR	15

Full name Micah Kilakila Ka'aihue
Born 03/29/1984 in Kailua, HI
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 240 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Iolani
Debut 09/04/2008
Drafted in the 15th round (438th overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 2002.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

When the Royals traded for Mike Jacobs before last season, it was a clear sign they were worried that Ka'aihue's Double-A Texas League MVP season in 2008 might be a fluke. Jacobs didn't work out, as he eventually was benched and later non-tendered, but Ka'aihue didn't help his own cause last year by putting up stats that seemed right in line with his pre-2008 production. Ka'aihue's best asset is an ability to get on base, a skill largely missing in Kansas City's big league lineup. He has a career .383 on-base percentage in the minors, thanks to his patience and excellent understanding of the strike zone. But where his patience gave him pitches he could drive in 2008, he became too focused on hitting homers last year, which predictably led to a power outage. Ka'aihue's bat speed always had been questioned before 2008, and it regressed last season. Power is the key to his production because he's a well below-average runner who's also a below-average defender at first base. The Royals rewarded his outstanding 2008 season with a September callup, but they left him in Triple-A last year even though he was already on the 40-man roster. It's likely he'll return to Omaha to serve again as insurance.
Improving his conditioning and diet enabled Ka'aihue to overcome knee problems and take off in 2008, when was the Texas League MVP. His father Kila Sr. played 11 years in the minors and his brother Kala is a first baseman in the Braves system. With healthy knees, Ka'aihue had much improved balance at the plate and used his legs and hips to turn on pitches. He always had outstanding plate discipline--he led the minors with 104 walks in 2008--and his newfound strength allowed him to finally take advantage of fastball counts. His bat speed also got better and he started catching up to plus fastballs that had blown him away in the past. Ka'aihue has to hit for power because he lacks athleticism and speed, making him a liability as a runner and defender. He needs to walk a fine line between being disciplined and too passive, as he sometimes lets hittable pitches go by. It's hard to know if Ka'aihue's 2008 breakout is a sign of things to come or a repeat of Craig Brazell's 2007, which led to a trip to Japan. The Royals didn't do him any favors by trading for Mike Jacobs, so Ka'aihue will have to make his own opportunity.
Scouting director Deric Ladnier spotted Kaaihue on a 2001 scouting trip to Hawaii to watch Bronson Sardinha and Brandon League. They went in the first two rounds that year, and the Royals took Kaaihue in the 15th round in 2002. His father Kala was a longtime minor league catcher who topped out in Triple-A during the mid-1970s, and his brother, also named Kala, is a catcher in the Braves system. Kila always had shown lots of raw power and a patient approach, but before 2005 he had a timid swing geared more toward not striking out than packing a punch. The Royals urged him to remain disciplined while attacking the pitches at which he chose to swing. Kaaihue did just that and enjoyed his best season yet. A pitcher and quarterback in high school, he has a strong arm and decent hands at first base, but he leaves a lot to be desired in terms of speed and range. He has earned a shot at Double-A this year.
Scouting director Deric Ladnier first saw Kaaihue when he went to Hawaii to check out Bronson Sardinha and Brandon League in 2001. A year later, he remembered Kaaihue's power potential and bloodlines--his father Kala caught in the minors for the Cardinals and Pirates--and drafted him in spite of a poor senior season. Kaaihue was overmatched in low Class A at the beginning of 2003, hitting .194 with three home runs and 31 strikeouts in 154 at-bats through May. He caught up during the second half, hitting .266 with eight homers and 46 strikeouts in 241 at-bats. He has a sweet swing with long extension and loft power, and his excellent bat speed gets the barrel through the zone quickly. He sometimes has trouble wrapping his bat, but he stayed inside the ball better late in the year after making an adjustment. Kaaihue doesn't chase pitches out of the strike zone and does draw walks, though he sometimes gets on a power jag and values muscle over contact. Elbow and biceps injuries limited Kaaihue to DH in 2002. He showed good hands with below-average range and speed in 2003. He will remain in low Class A to start 2004, allowing him to build on the confidence he gained in the second half of last year.
While scouting premium Hawaiian prospects Bronson Sardinha (first round, Yankees) and Brandon League (second, Blue Jays) in 2001, Royals scouting director Deric Ladnier saw Kaaihue as a high school junior. Kaaihue's power potential impressed Ladnier and made him the island's top prospect for the 2002 draft. A subpar senior season and Kaaihue's commitment to the University of Nebraska combined to knock him down to the 15th round. He physically resembles David Segui, and like Segui he has baseball bloodlines. Kaaihue's father Kala caught in the minors for six years with the Pirates and Cardinals. Kaaihue possesses the best raw power in the Royals system, with emphasis on the word "raw." He showed good patience in the Gulf Coast League but also struck out in one-fourth of his at-bats. Elbow and biceps problems limited him to DH duties after he signed, so the Royals don't really have a take on Kaaihue's defensive prowess yet. He showed below-average range and speed in high school, but had good enough hands and arm strength that the Royals worked him out at third base. Kaaihue probably isn't ready for full-season ball at this point.

Minor League Top Prospects

Ka'aihue didn't fare well in his two previous stints in the league, batting .218/.326/.363 in 173 games at Wichita in 2006-07. He re-emerged as a power-hitting prospect this year, leading the TL in homers (26), on-base percentage (.463) and slugging (.624) and edging Fowler for the league MVP award. He hit 11 more homers in Triple-A and went deep off Gavin Floyd after a big league callup. Ka'aihue showed great patience at the plate (his 104 walks overall led the minors) and the ability to turn on inside fastballs. His bat will have to carry him, because he's limited defensively at first base and on the basepaths. "He got off to a good start and he just maintained it," Northwest Arkansas manager Brian Poldberg said. "He knew the strike zone well. And to his benefit, in an RBI situation in the past where he would take a walk, he would be more aggressive this year."