UCSB Baseball Roster: The Team to Watch This Season

The UCSB baseball team is one to Watch This Season with their strong roster. Get to know the team with this blog post.

UCSB baseball roster The team to watch This Season

This season, the UCSB Baseball Team is stacked with top talent. From the pitching rotation to the dangerous hitters in the lineup, this team is poised to make a run at the title.

Led by Ace pitcher Jared instant, the Gauchos’ pitching staff is one of the best in the conference. Instant has been nearly unhittable this season, and he’ll be flanked by a talented supporting cast that includes Thomas Hatch and Michael Stilson.

The offense is no less potent, as evidenced by their conference-leading .287 batting average Senior first baseman Trevor Jones has been tearing it up at the plate, leading the team with a .385 batting average and 7 home runs He’s supported by a deep lineup that features power hitters like Matt Zimmerman and Ryan Cooper, as well as speedy players like leadoff man Sammy Stevens.

With a balanced attack and a deep roster, the UCSB baseball team is one to watch this season

The Infield

The infield is often referred to as the “heart of the team,” and that is certainly true for the UCSB baseball team this season. With a strong core of returning players, the team is poised to make a run at the championship.

Here is a look at the team’s infield:

First base: Senior captain Alex Garcia is a four-year starter and one of the best power hitters in the conference. He will be a force to be reckoned with at the plate this season.

Second base: Junior transfer Jake Thompson brings speed and athleticism to the position. He is a solid hitter with good gap power.

Shortstop: Sophomore Jackson Powell is one of the best Defensive Players on the team. He has good range and a strong arm. At the plate, he is a contact hitter with some pop.

Third base: Junior Kyleujah Sanders is a dangerous hitter who can also provide some power from the hot corner. He has good instincts and is a solid defender.

The Outfield

Three key members of the team that will be playing in the outfield this season are seniors Casey Schieder and Ryan Cooper, and junior Mark Contreras.

The Pitchers

Walk-ons, redshirts, and recruits, the 2019 UCSB Baseball Team is looking to make some waves this season. With an abundance of new talent, the Gauchos are looking to turn their 2018 season around. Here’s a look at the pitchers who will be leading the charge this season.

Redshirt senior right-hander Connor Mitchell will be the Gauchos’ Opening Day starter. The 6-foot-4 hurler from Carlsbad, CA was instrumental in UCSB’s run to the College World Series in 2016, pitching in 19 games with a 3.86 ERA. Mitchell will look to build on his success from last season when he led the team with a 2.92 ERA in 15 starts.

Fellow redshirt senior righty James REyss will also be counted on to eat up innings for the Gauchos this season. The San Diego native had a strong 2018 campaign, posting a 3.38 ERA in 13 starts. Reys has been one of UCSB’s most consistent pitchers over the last two seasons, making 26 starts with a 3.50 ERA.

Rounding out the senior trio is left-hander Nick Deeg, who enters his final season with 11 starts under his belt. The 6-foot-1 southpaw from Thousand Oaks CA had his best season as a Gaucho last year, going 5-3 with a 4.15 ERA in 13 starts. Deeg will look to build on that success this season as he anchors the back end of UCSB’s rotation.

One of the biggest questions facing UCSB this season is who will step up and fill the void left by departed ace Shane Bieber (Cleveland Indians). The answer may lie in sophomore righty Jack Wlatzka, who was named Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year after an impressive debut campaign in which he went 5-2 with a 3.48 ERA in 18 appearances (five starts). The 6-foot-4 California native will look to build on his successful freshman campaign and develop into UCSB’s ace this season

The Catchers

The catchers for the UCSB Baseball team are:

-Landon Glenn
-Garrett McShea
-Luke Swenson

All three of these dudes can hit the ball a mile and they have great gloves. Swenson is the best defensive catcher of the bunch and he’s also our starting pitcher. He’s a lefty so he brings a different element to the team. McShea is our power hitter. He’s got a great arm too so he’ll be able to catch anyone that tries to steal. Glenn is our utility player. He can play any position on the field and he’s a switch hitter so he’s valuable off the bench.

The Coaches

UCSB baseball is fortunate to have two great coaches leading the team this season. Head Coach AndrewChecketts has been with the program for 12 years and has led the team to six conference championships and nine NCAA tournament appearances. He was named Big West Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2016. Assistant Coach Steve McFarland is in his fourth season with the team and has helped the team to two conference championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances.

The Schedule

UCSB baseball will open their season at home against Pepperdine on February 14th. They will then have a three-game series against Hawaii before hitting the road to play Stanford. The Gauchos will return home to host UC Irvine for a three-game set and then travel to Long Beach State UCSB will open up conference play at home against Cal Poly

The Fans

The UCSB baseball team has a large and passionate following. The fans are known for their creativity and enthusiasm, and they always bring a great atmosphere to the games. They are also very supportive of the team, and they always seem to be there when the team needs them most.

The Media

UCSB is the team to watch this season. The Gauchos are currently ranked No. 1 in the country and are coming off a season in which they won their first ever College World Series But UCSB is not just a baseball team they’re also a research institution. Located in one of the most beautiful places in the world, Santa Barbara CA, UCSB is home to some of the smartest students in the country. The school’s rigorous academic programs prepare students for success in any field they choose to pursue after graduation. UCSB baseball players are no exception.

The Gauchos have a talented roster full of players who have the potential to go far in their careers, whether that be in baseball or another field. Here are just a few of the standouts on this year’s team:

Pitcher Nick Morreale was recently named the National Player of the Week by perfect game after he threw a complete game shutout against then-No. 2 Arkansas. Morreale, who is from San Diego CA, is currently ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the country by Baseball America and is expected to be selected in the early rounds of next year’s MLB Draft

Outfielder Robby Nesovic is one of the best hitters on the team and is currently batting .400/.457/.667 with four home runs and 22 RBIs. Nesovic, who is from Thousand Oaks, CA, was recently named Big West Conference Player of the Week after he hit .538/.647/1.154 with three home runs and nine RBIs in four games. Nesovic is expected to be drafted in next year’s MLB draft as well.

Catcher Michael McCullough is another player who has been starring for UCSB this season. McCullough, who hails from Newport Beach, CA, is batting .333/.444/.667 with three Home Runs and 18 RBIs while also being praised for his work behind the plate by opposing coaches and scouts alike. McCullough is yet another player who projects to be drafted next year.

The Gauchos also have a talented group of pitchers led by junior right-hander Blake Baginiewicz and senior left-hander Ryan Clark-Eagan. Baginiewicz has been dominant this season, posting a 4-0 record with a 0.69 ERA while striking out 44 batters in 39 innings pitched Clark-Eagan has been nearly as good as Baginiewicz, going 3-0 with a 1 provided by perfect game earn national recognition week after week? How will they perform under pressure when it matters most? These are questions that will be answered over the course of the season but one thing is for sure: UCSB baseball is must-watch television this spring

The Future

UCSB baseball roster The team to watch This Season

With a mix of experienced seniors and talented underclassmen, the UCSB Baseball Team is primed for a successful season The Gauchos will be led by senior ace pitcher Noah Davis, who is coming off of a stellar junior campaign. Other key returners include versatile infielder Sammy Sommer, hard-hitting outfielder Ryan Carlquist, and left-handed reliever Jack Dashwood.

With such a strong core of veteran players, the Gauchos will be looking to make a deep run in the postseason this year. They have all the pieces in place for a Successful Season and they will be fun to watch every step of the way.