'Iolani School graduate Ian Mopas, and former Hawai'i players Mark Rodrigues and Kris Sanchez have avoided next week's Major League Baseball first-year player draft as they have agreed to terms or signed with big league teams.

Mopas signed with the Minnesota Twins, who had control of his signing since drafting him in 2006 in the 30th round out of Golden West Community College. The Twins also drafted him in the 26th round the previous year out of 'Iolani.

"Now, it's up to him," said Twins scout Dan Cox, who has scouted Mopas since high school. "He's still young. He doesn't turn 19 until December."

As a draft-and-follow, the Twins had until today to sign Mopas or risk losing him in this year's draft, set for June 7 and 8.

Mopas, a left-handed pitcher, was en route to Fort Myers, Fla., the Twins' training facility, where he signed his contract, Cox said. He would not disclose the bonus amount, citing club policy.

Mopas was academically ineligible to play for Golden West this past season, so he played in adult leagues in Temple City, Calif., Cox said.

Meanwhile, Sanchez said he signed yesterday with the Seattle Mariners, while Rodrigues said he signed Sunday with the Cleveland Indians.

Both were able to sign as free agents because they were fifth-year seniors. (Rodrigues had two seasons off recovering from Tommy John surgery.)

Sanchez redshirted as a freshman when he attended Arizona, then transferred to Central Arizona JC before transferring to UH two seasons ago. He is coming off a banner season in which he led the team in batting (.362), doubles (23), homes runs (10), RBIs (66) and slugging (.633), and tied for the team lead in triples (3).

"It's nice to say you got drafted, but it was better for me to sign early," said Sanchez, who added he will report June 12 to Bellingham, Wash., where the Mariners have a short-season Single-A affiliate.

Sanchez also was courted by the New York Yankees, Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Toronto and Minnesota.

Rodrigues had been drafted out of Kaua'i High in 2001 (29th round, Montreal) and in 2002 out of Los Medanos JC (37th by Oakland). He said the Indians were the only ones interested in him signing as a free agent.

"It was the first opportunity they gave me," he said.

He said he will report to Mahoning Valley (Ohio), also a short-season Single-A team, on June 14.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.