IRVINE, Calif. — After its season ended on Wednesday at the Big West Tournament, the Hawaii baseball team was informed the next available return flight to Hawaii would be on Saturday.

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That forced the coaches to work remotely. And as they have proven, the remote does not feature a pause.

“Zero pause,” said UH coach Rich Hill. “It’s pedal-to-the-metal in terms of recruiting, exit meetings, all the stuff you have to do to end the season. Get guys back on campus, and then get them out (to summer leagues). And just all that recruiting.”

The Rainbow Warriors have been bracing for another makeover. Seventeen seniors were celebrated at the ’Bows’ home finale. The ’Bows could lose more players when the month-long NCAA transfer portal opens on June 1.

The three-day, 20-round Major League Baseball Draft in mid-July might impact the ’Bows starting rotation. Isaiah Magdaleno, who was named to the All-Big West first team, and Hekili Robello, a second-team selection, are considered draft prospects. Shortstop Elijah Ickes also is considered a prospective draft choice. All three completed their junior year — a standing that gives them the most bargaining leverage because of the option to return to school.

“We could have an older team,” associate head coach Keith Zuniga said. “But they all could potentially — because they’ve earned it — hear their name called.”

Magdaleno has secured representation with Tim Trafficanda of TWC Sports Management. Magdaleno finished his 2026 season 7-5 with a 2.36 ERA and 0.92 WHIP while averaging 10.95 strikeouts per nine innings. During a three-game stretch covering 27 innings to end the regular season, Magdaleno allowed one run and six hits while striking out 39. He twice was named national pitcher of the week.

“I feel I put myself in a pretty good spot,” Magdaleno said. “It’s up in the air from here.”

He has not ruled out a return to UH for a senior season.

“You never know,” he said. “We’ll see what happens. I don’t know anything for certain right now. Just enjoying it.”

Magdaleno said he has no plans to pitch in a summer league. He pitched in the prestigious Cape Cod League last summer. Magdaleno, who possesses a dominant changeup, is seeking to amp his 92-mph fastball.

Ickes is an intriguing prospect. He has all-fields power, as well as the strength to make long throws from short. But he missed 20 games after suffering a wrist injury. He returned for the final regular-season series, going 3-for-4 while falling a homer shy of the cycle. But the next game, he suffered a hamstring injury. He did not play in Wednesday’s tournament game against Cal State Fullerton.

Third baseman Tate Shimao, one of the key returners, was supposed to compete in the Cape Cod League this summer. Instead, Shimao will take time off to fully heal from a thumb injury.

“No surgery,” Hill said, “but he needs two, three months off doing nothing for that thing to heal.”

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Hill revealed that infielder Noah Rodriguez, who did not play on Wednesday, had been playing with a fractured hamate bone “until he couldn’t take it anymore.”

Reliever Tsubasa Tomii, who was named to the All-Big West first team, and left-hander Grant Garman are scheduled to pitch in the Cape Cod League. Catcher Jake Redding, first baseman Josh Martin and designated hitter Mana Lau Kong will either play summer ball or train this offseason.

Zuniga, who doubles as the pitching coach, and assistant coaches Dave Nakama, and Jordan Twohig have been on recruiting missions in recent days. The ’Bows have received commitments from at least 12 prospects — a number that will grow after the portal opens.

The ’Bows are moving to the Mountain West, where several campuses are located in elevation (with the ball traveling farther because of the thin air).

“We haven’t really said we’re going to change how we do things,” Hill said. “We need power, as it is. That’s just a priority for us.”

The ’Bows hit .250 and averaged 4.7 runs per game. They managed 17 home runs — five of them from senior Ben Zeigler-Namoa.

“We have to have the ability to score runs quick, and we’re recruiting for that,” Hill said.

As always, the ’Bows are seeking strike-throwing pitchers with swing-and-miss abilities. This season, the ’Bows were third nationally with a 3.44 ERA. In addition to freshman Brody Martin-Grudzielanek, who emerged as a weekend starter, three pitchers who redshirted — Sebastian Gonzalez, Shannon Fee and Parker Grant — will be considerations in 2027.

There is one pitching certainty.

“I’m here, 10 toes down,” Zuniga said. “I love being here. My family loves being here.”

Hill said reflecting on the season is an on-going process. After Wednesday’s elimination game, Hill praised his players.

“Very proud of the group,” Hill said. “I know coaches always say that, and it’s a cliche. … I told the guys there’s no plaque, there’s no trophy, that’s ever going to be awarded to the group. But what they did, with the injuries and the setbacks and the defections to professional baseball and the portal, this really was astonishing. The lay person is going to see the record. But when you start peeling back the layer and really understand the obstacles these guys overcame to get to a fourth seed, it was pretty amazing.”

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