Lana Akau Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Iolana KP Akau
Born 08/31/1995 in Waipahu, HI
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Saint Louis
Drafted in the 20th round (611th overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2013 (signed for $375,000).

View Draft Report

Akau missed most of the season after breaking his thumb during a team scrimmage in mid-February. He healed in time for the playoffs and for predraft workouts with teams. He's 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds and stands out for his defense. He is a quick and agile behind the plate with good blocking and receiving skills, as well as above-average arm strength, and shows leadership on the field. His draft status will depend on how much teams believe in his bat. He has a compact swing from the right side with gap power potential, but will likely hit at the bottom of a big league lineup. A member of Hawaii's 2008 Little League World Series team, Akau is committed to Hawaii.

Top Rankings

Akau already has excelled in the face of big-time pressure. He helped lead his team from Waipio, Hawaii, to the 2008 Little League World Series title, homering in the championship game against Mexico. He went on to play his prep baseball at St. Louis High in Honolulu, the same school that produced Dodgers righthander Brandon League, and was committed to the University of Hawaii before the Athletics signed him for an above-slot $375,000 in the 20th round of the 2013 draft. The A's see in Akau shades of another Hawaiian catcher who came through their system, Kurt Suzuki. He's best known for his defense, while his offensive upside looks fairly limited. He's highly agile behind the plate and an advanced receiver, and the A's like how he takes charge of games. His arm strength and transfer on his throws are solid as well. Offensively, he has a sound fundamental swing with limited power potential. The A's would like him to get stronger, but even then he'll likely always have below-average power. Akau profiles as a catch-and-throw backup, and will compete for a spot at low Class A Beloit in 2014.

Akau missed most of the season after breaking his thumb during a team scrimmage in mid-February. He healed in time for the playoffs and for predraft workouts with teams. He's 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds and stands out for his defense. He is a quick and agile behind the plate with good blocking and receiving skills, as well as above-average arm strength, and shows leadership on the field. His draft status will depend on how much teams believe in his bat. He has a compact swing from the right side with gap power potential, but will likely hit at the bottom of a big league lineup. A member of Hawaii's 2008 Little League World Series team, Akau is committed to Hawaii.