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After being selected in the 19th round of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers, Elijah Ickes faced a choice many young baseball players only dream about—sign a professional contract or bet on himself in college. The former Kamehameha Schools standout chose to stay home and continue his development with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa baseball team.
Now a draft-eligible junior, Ickes is projected to take over as the starting shortstop in 2026 and has emerged as one of the state’s top professional prospects. He said family played a major role in his decision, valuing the opportunity to represent Hawaiʻi and compete in front of loved ones at Les Murakami Stadium.
Drafted while playing summer ball in Canada, Ickes described the moment as “awesome, hectic and relieving,” but ultimately trusted the Rainbow Warrior coaching staff to help him grow. He said college baseball has provided greater exposure and development than he would have received out of high school.
“In the end, you just have to trust yourself, believe in yourself,” Ickes said. “For me, it was the coaching staff here — they had the tools and the experience that helped me get so much better. These past years, they’ve done so much for me, and I feel like I made that right choice of coming to college and experiencing it all.”
A former fan in the stands, Ickes now embraces a leadership role in the clubhouse, mentoring younger teammates in the era of NIL and the transfer portal.
As he enters a pivotal junior season, Ickes is focused on winning games and enjoying his time in a Hawaiʻi uniform, knowing that wherever baseball takes him next, he will continue to represent the Islands.
Read more about Ickes at Hawaiiathletics.com.
