Bakersfield, California. – Cal State Bakersfield Baseball is excited to unveil its impressive roster of new recruits for the 2025 season while naming new head coach Jordon Banfield. With Banfield’s extensive experience and innovative approach, the Roadrunners have an exciting season ahead. Fans are invited to join us at Hardt Field where we look to build on our strong foundation and reach new milestones with the new roster.
Jugs
Michael Riley, a 6’2″ right-handed pitcher transferring from Grand Valley State, brings a stellar background to CSUB. Riley, who previously earned NJCAA First Team All-American honors at Gateway Community College, has showcased his talent with a 3.00 ERA over 129 innings. His career includes 114 strikeouts and just 32 walks, making him an impressive addition to the pitching staff.
Shane McAlinden, a 6-foot-4 right-hander from Oakland University, was named to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team in 2024. McAlinden has settled into the weekend rotation as a freshman and shown potential and consistency, making him a key player for the coming year.
Dante Jackson, a 6’0″ left-handed pitcher from Golden West Community College, played a crucial role in his team’s Orange Empire title win. Jackson started 14 times and posted a 4.71 ERA in 65 innings. His imposing presence and proven performance are a great addition to our pitching lineup.
CJ Brown, a 6-foot-2 from Santa Ana College, brings extensive experience with over 100 innings pitched and an impressive 11-4 record. Brown was instrumental in his team’s 2023 state title win and 2024 Final Four appearance, showing his ability to excel under pressure.
Hauze Fragoso, also a 6-foot-3 right-hander from Santa Ana College, has pitched 128.1 innings and is 6-3. Like Brown, Fragoso played a key role in Santa Ana’s state championship and Final Four runs, highlighting his durability and effectiveness on the mound.
Alex Urias-Calvillo, a 5’10” right-handed pitcher from South Mountain Community College, made 46 appearances and threw 91.2 innings. He posted a solid 3.04 ERA in his two years. His consistent performance and strong fundamentals make him a valuable addition to the team.
Ryan King, a 6-foot-4 right-hander transferring from Grand Valley State, has impressed in the Perfect Game Collegiate League this summer. King posted a remarkable 2.17 ERA in 29 innings, allowing just 14 hits and striking out 37 batters, demonstrating his dominance and control.
Jeremy Jones, a 6’1″ right-hander from Shelton State Community College, brings experience from a Division I NJCAA World Series team. His ability to thrive in high-stakes situations adds a critical dimension to our pitching staff.
Haldon Craig, a 6’3″ right-hander from Doane University, has shown significant potential with a fastball in the low to mid-90s. Craig recorded 44 strikeouts in 30 innings in the Northwoods League this summer, proving his potential as a key contributor.
Logan Rightmyer, a 6-foot-4 right-hander from LA Mission College, had an impressive summer in the California Collegiate League. Rightmyer posted a 3.00 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 39.2 innings, showing his ability to handle competitive play.
Jack Leary, a 6-foot-2 right-hander from Whitworth University, was named a Western Canadian Baseball League All-Star in the summer of 2024. A weekend starter for Whitworth, Leary has pitched nearly 100 innings in his career, making him a reliable addition to our rotation.
Christopher Hund, a 5’10” right-hander from Southern Wesleyan University, began his career as an infielder on Long Island before switching to pitcher. This summer, Hund struck out more than one batter per inning in the Valley League, demonstrating his effective pitching skills.
Logan Borboa, a 6-foot-10 right-hander from Briar Cliff University, earned honorable mention All-GPAC honors as a freshman. Borboa finished his freshman year with a 6-5 record and a 4.70 ERA, showing potential for growth and development.
Tai Walton, a 6-foot-4 right-hander from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, has successfully made the transition from outfielder to pitcher. In the California Collegiate League this summer, Walton posted a 3.00 ERA and 1.17 WHIP, highlighting his adaptability and effectiveness.
Matthew Lopez, a 5’10” right-handed pitcher who transferred from Northern Kentucky University, has made 43 Division I appearances and pitched 67.2 innings in his two-year career. His experience and consistency are valuable assets to our team.
Position player
Ryan Ruch, an outfielder who transferred from Chaminade University, made an immediate impact in 2024 by earning the Pacific West Conference Freshman of the Year honors. Ruch finished the season with a .371 batting average and an OPS over 1.000, ranking 6th in the conference for batting average and 3rd for on-base percentage.
Elgin Bennett, a transfer outfielder who began his career at Kansas State University and later played at Chipola College, was named to the All-Panhandle Conference Second Team in 2023. Bennett was also a top-250 prospect in the 2022 high school class, bringing significant potential to the Roadrunners.
Matthew Dobson, an infielder who transferred from Santa Ana College, was named to the First Team All-Orange Empire after posting a .326 batting average with 6 home runs and an OPS of .930. Dobson was a key player in his team’s state championship and Final Four appearances, proving his ability to contribute at a high level.
Louis Zulaica, an infielder who transferred from Gavilan College, was named MVP of the Coast Conference South Division. Zulaica batted .394 with 20 doubles and 5 home runs and posted a conference average of .469 and a slugging percentage of .790, demonstrating his offensive prowess.
Tyrese Johnson, a transfer outfielder from Bradley University, previously played at Central Arizona College, where he was part of the 2022 NJCAA national championship team. Johnson had a .386 on-base percentage and stole 15 bases at Bradley, adding speed and on-base ability to the roster.
Bakersfield native and Cal Poly transfer Evan Cloyd had a stellar summer in the West Coast League. Cloyd boasts a batting average over .300 and an OPS over .900 and has shown exceptional discipline at bat with 15 walks and only 6 strikeouts.
Tyler Leroy, a transfer catcher from Southern Illinois University, began his college career at Arizona Western College. Leroy batted .298 and threw out over 35% of base stealers, bringing valuable experience and defensive skills to the team.
Will White, a transfer catcher from LA Valley College, was unanimously selected as the conference Gold Glove catcher. White batted over .300 with 6 home runs and combined strong defensive skills with offensive contributions.
Lewis Barnum, an all-around talent from Bryant University, had a stellar year in 2023 with a .281 batting average, 5 home runs, and a .900 OPS. His versatility and offensive power make him a valuable addition to our lineup.
Supplements to High School
Davis Goodwin of Liberty High School in Bakersfield was selected to the All-League Second Team and All-Area First Team. His strong performance in high school and his local ties make him an exciting prospect for the Roadrunners.
Adam Salazar of Ridgeview High School in Bakersfield holds the record for the second-most hits in the history of the Ridgeview High School program. Salazar was selected to the First Team All-Area and All-League and was the 2021 high school state champion. In his senior year, he batted .452 with 12 doubles, proving his power.
As the Roadrunners prepare for the 2025 season, we look forward to the exciting fall game against Bakersfield College. We invite fans to come see us at Hardt Field and join the Roadrunner Club, which offers exclusive benefits throughout the season. Don’t miss out – purchase your season tickets now to ensure you’re there for every exciting game and support the Roadrunners on their road to success.
~ GoRunners.com ~
