My, how things can change in one year. During the 2025 season, UC Irvine won 43 games, made it into the top 10 of the DI ranks at one point, and made the NCAA Tournament. But last season, the Anteaters went just 25-27 and finished tied for 255th in total runs. UC Irvine will look to correct the course heading into 2027.
The Returnees
As noted above, UC Irvine had some problems scoring runs. Out of all the players on UC Irvine’s 2026 roster who accumulated at least 40 games played, only one (Efren Ortega) had at least a .300 average. Ortega is back for 2027.
The junior catcher slashed .306/.436/.339 last season for UC Irvine. Contact is his game; he had just a 20.6% Whiff% in limited time in the Cape Cod League this summer. Ortega also walked (22) more than he struck out (21) last year.
He’ll be re-joined by Alonso Reyes, a fifth-year player who batted .270/.420/.389 with four home runs and 12 extra-base hits. Plus, Tommy Farmer and Zach Fjelstad. Farmer led the UC Irvine club last year with five home runs, while Fjelstad had 59 hits to pace the club.
Lucas Schermer and Zach Doyle, both of whom saw some time with the club, also returned for 2027.
As for the pitching staff, it will look very different. Perhaps the most notable pitcher back for 2027 is now-sophomore Hunter Manning. Manning struck out 30 over 25.1 IP as a freshman, a year that saw him make four starts and pitch in 17 games. Fastball that ran up to 93-94 MPH with riding action, along with a slider.
Tyler Foster, who pitched in 15 games last year, is also one of the other notable pitchers back for UC Irvine. Senior Julian Custer, juniors Dane Grant and Peyton Rodgers, as well as sophomore Caden Castles, are among the other returning pitchers.
The Newcomers
UC Irvine lost some heavy hitters on the mound. Finnegan Wall (Twins) and Trevor Hansen (Angels) both went pro, while top reliever Ricky Ojeda went to the SEC and joined the Tennessee Volunteers in the summer.
To replace some of the lost names, UC Irvine has eight new freshmen on their roster: pitchers Emmett Kopp, Thomas Padilla, and Troy Khasaempanth, plus position players Kaleb Derosier, Will Bandel, Jaden Valenzuela, Braden Oliver, and two-way player Jack Champlin. Additionally, the Anteaters do have new names via the transfer portal.
Nathaniel Pimentel struck out nine and walked nine as a reliever for CSU Bakersfield. Pimentel is entering his sophomore season.
Tyler Wood pitched in three seasons with UC Davis. Wood punched out 33 over 38 innings and 27 games last season for the Anteaters.
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