Hawaii pitcher Isaiah Magdaleno earns national, Big West honors

One of the most magical pitching performances in the University of Hawaii baseball program’s history would not have been possible without a lifelong pitch.

Three days after pitching a one-hit, 16-strikeout complete game against UC Riverside last Friday, right-hander Isaiah Magdaleno was named the Golden Spikes Award/D1Baseball National Player of the Week. He also was selected as the Big West’s Pitcher of the Week.

“I’m honored,” said Magdaleno, who shared credit with his coaches, teammates and a mystifying changeup.

Pitching coach Keith Zuniga said the Los Angeles-reared junior “had an excellent week of preparation. He then went out there with his play and competed his tail off in front of a sold-out crowd. When the ’Bows needed it the most, he went out and delivered, and saved the bullpen for the next two games.”

Magdaleno retired the first 19 Highlanders in order before issuing a one-out walk to Lucas Bonham in the seventh. With one out in the ninth, David Whittle hit a chopper that bounced over third baseman Tate Shimao’s outstretched reach. Shortstop Taylor Takata’s throw was too late to get Whittle at first.

Magdaleno then retired the next two Highlanders to earn the second complete game in Rich Hill’s 253 games as UH head coach.

Magdaleno had seven strikeouts in the first three innings, and 11 through the fifth inning. He threw first-pitch strikes to 16 of the first 22 batters. Although he threw from a menu of six pitches, his most effective were a 92 mph fastball and a knee-buckling changeup. Zuniga said Magdaleno dropped the changeup into the zone for early-count strikes and buried it in the turf to force swing-and-misses.

“It’s always been his pitch,” Zuniga said of Magdaleno’s changeup, which is thrown with the same motion and arm speed as the fastball. “I can’t take any credit. From the moment he showed up on campus (in August 2023), that’s been his best pitch. The way he throws it with conviction, he stays true to himself. So many times guys that age see something on Twitter or TikTok and want to play with different pitch grips. Isaiah’s known he’s had a dominant changeup probably his entire life. … It’s (thrown) the same as as fastball, and that’s what fools people. It doesn’t change the angle or release height. He just lets it rip.”

Growing up as a two-way player, Magdaleno relied on a fastball and forkball. He then adjusted his grip, applying pressure with his thumb and index finger, as the forkball morphed into a changeup. In Little League through high school, those were his primary pitches.

“I guess it’s been my pitch since I was young,” said Magdaleno, who has added a slider, cutter, curveball and sinker.

Zuniga said: “When he’s dialed in and executing pitches and landing two different pitches for a strike, it could feel like a video game at times. We’d love for all our guys to be that efficient and execute pitches like that. It was one of those nights for him. We look forward to getting him back on the horse and seeing if he can do it again.”