Welcome to Big West Baseball
If you’ve just discovered Big West Dugout, welcome to my little corner of the college baseball universe. The Big West Conference is a Division I league headquartered in California and consisting of public universities on the West Coast. Ten of the 11 current members are in California and one is in Hawaiʻi, so the rivalries are regional and intense. The conference dates back to 1969, and while it no longer sponsors football, baseball remains one of its crown‐jewel sports.
Big West baseball is scrappy and competitive. The programs often recruit locally and develop players overlooked by larger conferences. Many of those players eventually reach the pros; at least a dozen former Big West players were on MLB Opening Day rosters in 2025, and UC Santa Barbara pitcher Tyler Bremner went second overall in the 2025 MLB Draft.
2025 Season Snapshot
The 2025 season showcased how balanced the Big West can be. UC Irvine captured the regular‑season title with a 24–6 conference record, but Cal Poly stormed through the postseason to claim the conference tournament. The table below summarizes each team’s conference record and a quick highlight.
| Team | 2025 Big West record* | Note |
|---|---|---|
| UC Irvine | 24–6 (43–17 overall) | Regular‑season champions |
| Cal Poly | 23–7 (43–19 overall) | 2025 Big West tournament champions |
| Cal State Fullerton | 19–11 (29–27 overall) | Four national championships (1979, 1984, 1995, 2004) and 18 College World Series appearances |
| UC Santa Barbara | 16–14 (36–18 overall) | Tyler Bremner drafted No. 2 overall in 2025 |
| Hawaiʻi | 16–14 (35–21 overall) | Competitive program from the islands |
| UC San Diego | 15–15 (26–25 overall) | Successful D-II program which joined D-I in 2021 |
| Long Beach State | 15–15 (22–31 overall) | The “Dirtbags” nickname reflects a gritty, hard‑nosed style |
| UC Davis | 13–17 (27–28 overall) | Alumni like Daniel Descalso and analytics pioneer Sig Mejdal now work as MLB coaches and executives |
| CSUN (Cal State Northridge) | 10–20 (15–34 overall) | Has produced 17 MLB players, including 2025 All‑Star pitcher Joe Ryan |
| Cal State Bakersfield | 9–21 (18–38 overall) | A young program (founded in 2009) |
| UC Riverside | 5–25 (16–36 overall) | Division II national championships in 1977 and 1982 |
*Conference record shown first; overall record in parentheses.
Big West Playoff & NCAA Tournament Format
Big West Championship – Starting in 2025, the conference revived its postseason tournament after a 27‑year hiatus. The top five teams from the regular season qualify. Seeds No. 4 and No. 5 play a single‑elimination “play‑in” game; the winner joins seeds 1–3 in a four‑team, double‑elimination bracket. The champion earns the Big West title and an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. This format continues in 2026: The tournament will be held at UC Irvine’s Anteater Ballpark and again features a play‑in game followed by a double‑elimination bracket.
Path to Omaha – Winning the Big West championship guarantees a spot in the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament, but other high‑performing Big West teams can receive at‑large bids. The NCAA tournament features 64 teams. Regionals are hosted at 16 sites with four‑team double‑elimination brackets. Regional winners advance to Super Regionals, which are best‑of‑three series. The eight Super Regional winners move on to the Men’s College World Series in Omaha, where two double‑elimination brackets determine the finalists. The winners of those brackets play a best‑of‑three series for the national title. Because the NCAA postseason alternates between double‑elimination brackets and best‑of‑three series, a team can lose multiple games yet still win it all.
Why Big West Dugout?
Big West Dugout is a fan‑powered blog created by someone who loves this game and the incredible players and teams in the Big West, with no insider credentials. The goal is to shine a light on hardworking athletes and competitive programs through player spotlights, team analysis and draft‑prospect breakdowns.
Here’s what you’ll find:
- Team pages: Each of the 11 schools has its own section with trend pieces, weekend notes and player spotlights. Use the Teams menu to explore.
- Draft coverage and player profiles: Scouting reports on draft prospects, updates on former Big West players in the minors, and deep dives into rising stars (e.g., our coverage of the 2024 draftees).
- Conference news: Updates on standings, awards and postseason tournaments. This includes big stories and features on Big West alumni in MLB.
Everything is written from the bleachers, not the press box. The tone is informal and honest – a blend of stats, scouting and fandom.
Big West in the Pros
The Big West has a proud tradition of producing professional talent. At least twelve former Big West players were on 2025 MLB Opening Day rosters, with Cal State Fullerton leading all programs with four players. Notable alumni include Jarren Duran (Long Beach State), Shane Bieber (UC Santa Barbara), Brooks Lee and Drew Thorpe (Cal Poly). Managers Brandon Hyde (Baltimore Orioles) and Mark Kotsay (Oakland A’s) also hail from the conference. The 2025 draft further showcased Big West talent: UC Santa Barbara’s Tyler Bremner was taken second overall after dominating college hitters with a 2.54 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 2024.
Suggested Reading
To get started, here are a few representative posts:
- Where Are the Big West’s 2024 Draftees Now? – A deep dive into how last year’s draftees are faring in the minors.
- Ten Players To Watch in the Big West In 2026 – A look ahead at some key players in the conference next season.
- How CSUN’s Incoming Transfer Class Can Impact 2025 Season – A look at some of the new faces the Matadors brought in to help their offense in 2025.
You can find these on the homepage or via the Player Profiles and Draft Coverage categories.
Get Involved
Comment on posts, share your own observations, or suggest players to watch. Follow Big West Dugout on social media and subscribe to get emails when new posts go live. Whether you’re a die‑hard fan, a parent of a player, or just curious about West Coast college baseball, this site is your dugout.
Big West Dugout 