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The Big West’s impact on the baseball world was felt during the 2025 MLB season with at least forty alumni making an appearance. The Big West had 13 former standouts on MLB Opening Day Rosters. Former Matador Joe Ryan (Minnesota Twins) and former Mustang Bryan Woo (Seattle Mariners) were named to the 2025 MLB All-Star Game. Six former standouts got their first MLB call up this season in Andrew Alvarez (Cal Poly/Washington Nationals), Nathan Church (UC Irvine/St. Louis Cardinals), Denzel Clarke (CSUN/Athletics), Andre Granillo (UC Riverside/St. Louis Cardinals), Christian Koss (UC Irvine/San Francisco Giants) and Taylor Rashi (UC Irvine/Arizona Diamondbacks). 

At least four former Big West stars are expected to be competing in the 2025 MLB Postseason wild card round with Tanner Bibee (Cal State Fullerton) and Cade Smith (Hawai’i) for the Cleveland Guardians, Jarren Duran (Long Beach State) of the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs’ Justin Turner (Cal State Fullerton). The Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays have byes to the divisional round of their respective leagues’ playoffs and have not announced their rosters. Starting pitcher Shane Bieber (UC Santa Barbara) is expected to play for the Blue Jays, while Bryan Woo (Cal Poly) will be a rotation piece Mariners. 

 




Former Big West Baseball Players who Made an Appearance in 2025 MLB Regular Season


MLB Player, Position
Alma Mater
MLB Club






Andrew Alvarez, SP
Cal Poly
Washington Nationals


David Banuelos, C
Long Beach State
Baltimore Orioles


Shane Bieber, SP
UC Santa Barbara
Toronto Blue Jays


Tanner Bibee, SP
Cal State Fullerton
Cleveland Guardians


Rob Brantly, C
UC Riverside
Miami Marlins


Justin Bruihl, RP
Cal Poly
Toronto Blue Jays


Matt Chapman, 3B
Cal State Fullerton
San Francisco Giants


Austin Davis, RP
Cal State Bakersfield
San Diego Padres


Nathan Church, OF
UC Irvine
Oakland A’s


Denzel Clarke, OF
CSUN
Athletics


J.D. Davis, 3B
Cal State Fullerton
Los Angeles Angels


Noah Davis, RP
UC Santa Barbara
Minnesota Twins


Chris Devenski, RP
Cal State Fullerton
New York Mets


Jarren Duran, OF
Long Beach State
Boston Red Sox 


Calvin Faucher, RP
UC Irvine
Miami Marlins


Robert Garcia, RP
UC Davis
Texas Rangers


Justin Garza, RP
Cal State Fullerton
New York Mets


Andre Granillo, RP
UC Riverside
St. Louis Cardinals


Garrett Hampson, SS
Long Beach State
Arizona Diamondbacks/Cincinnati Reds/St. Louis Cardinals 


Keston Hiura, 2B
UC Irvine
Colorado Rockies


Christian Koss, IF
UC Irvine
San Francisco Giants


Brooks Lee,SS
Cal Poly
Minnesota Twins


Michael Lorenzen, SP
Cal State Fullerton
Kansas City Royals


Darren McCaughan, RP
Long Beach State
Minnesota Twins


Michael McGreevey, SS
UC Santa Barbara
St. Louis Cardinals


Jeff McNeil, 2B
Long Beach State
New York Mets


Kyle Nelson, RP
UC Santa Barbara
Arizona Diamondbacks


Andre Pallante, SP
UC Irvine
St. Louis Cardinals


Taylor Rashi, RP
UC Irvine
Arizona Diamondbacks


Josh Rojas, 3B
Hawai’i
Chicago White Sox


Joe Ryan, RP
CSUN
Minnesota Twins


Connor Seaold, RP
Cal State Fullerton
Tampa Bay Rays / Atlanta Braves


Cade Smith, RP
Hawai’i
Cleveland Guardians


Dillon Tate, RP
UC Santa Barbara
Toronto Blue Jays


Troy Taylor, RP
UC Irvine/Long Beach State
Seattle Mariners


Drew Thorpe, SP
Cal Poly
Chicago White Sox


Justin Turner, 3B
Cal State Fullerton
Chicago Cubs


Chad Wallach, C
Cal State Fullerton
Los Angeles Angels


Shay Whitcomb, SS 
UC San Diego
Houston Astros


Bryan Woo, SP
Cal Poly
Seattle Mariners