Aloha sports fans, welcome to the K-Zone — your source for everything baseball. This is the second coming of my blog, one that I started in my tenure with Hawaii Winter Baseball, so I am very happy to be back. I’ll be focusing predominantly on Hawaii Winter Baseball prospects and their baseball journeys, but will also delve into other important sports topics as they arise. In this installment, I wanted to focus on a few HWB alumni who are making names for themselves at the Major League level.

Dexter Fowler has entrenched himself as Colorado’s leadoff man–a move the team hoped to make by 2010. As a member of the Waikiki BeachBoys in 2006, Fowler showed his five-tool prowess in the outfields of Les Murakami Stadium and Hans L’Orange Park. This season marks Fowler’s first full campaign with the big league club, and through 52 games, the speedster has racked up 14 doubles, two triples, three home runs and is seventh in the National League with 11 stolen bases–and he’s still learning how to get jumps off of Major League pitchers! This guy will be the cornerstone of the Rockies’ outfield for years to come, and don’t be surprised if the club gets back into contention in the very weak N.L. West division.

Matt Wieters’ call up to The Show a few weeks ago carried the most hype seen by a prospect since, perhaps, Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria. While the switch-hitting catcher has struggled a bit (six hits in his first 31 at-bats), this guy has the potential to overtake Mike Piazza as one of the best power-hitting catchers ever to play the game. Wieters has power to all fields, and once he settles in and continues to get at-bats in the power-packed Orioles’ lineup, the soft-spoken backstop will soon live up to his all-star potential.

I’m rooting for Matt because in addition to being a great player, he’s an even better human being. When he flew in to play for the Sharks in 2007, I had the task of shuttling him around for a mini media tour–in my not-so-larger-than-life Toyota Camry. So picture this: a top prospect who was fresh off signing a $7 million contract, hunched over in the front seat of a Camry because his 6-foot, 5-inch frame can barely fit. And, after enduring the tours, interviews and waiting around, not once did he complain or give off the “I’m above this” vibe all to common amongst young stud athletes. Keep an eye on the Orioles, they still need pitching help, but Wieters and their other young hitters will make them a force in the A.L. East very soon.

Mat Gamel has quietly become Milwaukee’s next power hitter in a lineup already stocked with power thanks to bashers Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder. Gamel spent his HWB days in the Green and White of a North Shore Honu uniform in 2007, and the third baseman’s moon shots over the Hans L’Orange fence provided a very accurate picture of what the slugger could do on a regular basis. From what I hear from team executives, Gamel probably could have played most of last season with the big league club, but was left down in the minors to work on his shaky defense. Now that he’s improved to at least an average fielder, look for Gamel to improve upon his two home runs and 10 RBIs–figures he posted through 21 games thus far. And, don’t count out the Brewers in the N.L. Central race as the Cubs and Cardinals begin their summer swoons.

That’s it for this week’s K-Zone, but stay tuned as next week we’ll take a look at some of the HWB alumni who have put together solid MLB careers.