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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Tanner](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Tanner-Bibee-800x500.jpg\")
Tanner Bibee, former Titans Baseball player and starting pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians delivered the keynote address at “Dinner With the Titans” baseball fundraiser. (Courtesy of Katie Albertson)\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Former Titans Baseball standout Tanner Bibee recalled how Cal State Fullerton prepared him for the big leagues while imparting important values and lessons he carries with him as a Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe underdog mentality and the grit were exactly what I was looking for. I wouldn\u2019t trade my time here for anything,\u201d said Bibee, who made his Major League Baseball debut in 2023 and wears No. 28 on his Guardians jersey.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know I would not be where I am today without my experiences at Cal State Fullerton and how they shaped me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bibee, who began his professional baseball career in the Cleveland Guardians\u2019 minor league system in 2021, was the keynote speaker at the 2026 Dinner With the Titans baseball fundraiser.<\/p>\n
More than 400 supporters, current and alumni players, family members and coaches attended the Jan. 23 event. Nearly $$194,000 was raised for the storied baseball program<\/a>, including a $20,000 donation from Bibee<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jim Donovan, director of athletics, thanked the rousing crowd for their support and said that 100% of their donations stay with the baseball program. Donovan added that Head Coach Jason Dietrich<\/a> helps to determine how their contributions are spent on the team, including for student scholarships.<\/p>\n Donovan called this year\u2019s team<\/a> the most exciting since 2018: \u201cI believe all the stars are lining up for an outstanding season.\u201d<\/p>\n Over Bibee\u2019s<\/a> four seasons with Titans Baseball, the Mission Viejo native had a 3.82 ERA and 236 strikeouts. He landed a spot on the team in 2018 and pitched from the mound until 2021.\u00a0<\/p>\n While he called his collegiate career challenging at times for him and the program, he also mentioned highlights such as making his NCAA postseason debut. He helped the Titans earn a 5\u20132 victory over Stanford to advance to the NCAA Super Regionals.<\/p>\n \u201cI cherish those moments every day,\u201d said Bibee, who earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in communications-public relations. \u201cI was in the minors for less than two years, and without the traits that Fullerton was able to instill in me, I might still be there.<\/p>\n \u201cThe work ethic and mental fortitude that Fullerton helped me create are one of the reasons why I was able to fly through the ranks so fast.\u201d<\/p>\n During his remarks, Bibee recalled how Cal State Fullerton has been in his blood since he was a boy.<\/p>\n Bibee played on a baseball travel ball team, led by former Titans players, and at a young age, learned the \u201cFullerton way\u201d of toughness and the ability to make sacrifices to succeed.<\/p>\n He and his parents also frequented Goodwin Field to watch the Titans play.<\/p>\n \u201cMy parents and I started going to games,\u201d he recollected. \u201cI always loved walking up to Goodwin Field under the lights with the smell of funnel cake and kettle corn in the air.\u201d<\/p>\n After touring the campus, watching legendary Titans such as MLB players Matt Chapman<\/a> and Michael Lorenzen<\/a>, and being constantly exposed to CSUF, Bibee knew he wanted to be a Titan.<\/p>\n \u201cThe development, the history, and the winning were undeniable; it stared you right in the face,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Bibee gave some parting advice to the 2026 team that, just by being a Titan, they\u2019ll be ready for any curveballs life throws along the way \u2014 during and after their baseball careers.<\/p>\n \u201cWork hard, study hard, win hard and most importantly, have fun hard \u2014 and carry pride putting on the Titan logo,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n![\"Titans](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Tanner-Bibee-Dugout.jpg\")
Players on the 2026 Titans Baseball team cheer from the dugout. (Courtesy of Cal State Fullerton Athletics)<\/p>\n