Former Santa Barbara High pitcher Bryce Warrecker officially signed with the New York Yankees organization on Tuesday.
“Signing with the Yankees allows me to be in one of the best organizations with some of the most knowledgeable baseball minds in the world,” Warrecker told Noozhawk. “I am really excited to see how I can grow with them.”
The Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo product agreed to his contract worth $150,000 after being taken in the 20th Round of the 2023 MLB Draft. The 6-foot-8 righthander announced his signing on his Instagram account.
The Yankees will also cover the academic fees for the rest of the classes that Warrecker needs to receive his degree from Cal Poly.
“It felt like a long wait to the end of Day 3 but it was a relief once I found out what my plan was going to be moving forward,” Warrecker said.
The Warrecker name is one that is synonymous with Santa Barbara baseball, from Bryce to his late grandfather Fred, who passed away this June and was a diehard Dodgers fan.
“My grandpa would have loved it,” Bryce said. “Sure he might continue to watch the Dodgers, but he will always be a Bryce Warrecker fan.”
Bryce’s father Wes Warrecker and his uncle Teddy Warrecker, also big names in the Santa Barbara community, have made a profound impact on Bryce’s baseball career.
“My mom and dad have been the best support system for me,” Bryce said. “My dad has taught me just about everything I know about pitching… He is one of my best friends and has been a hero of mine that I look up to constantly.
“Our connection through baseball has been special, and I am beyond grateful to call him my dad.”
Teddy was a long-time assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Cal Poly, and Bryce credits him as the reason he wanted to be a Mustang.
“[Uncle Teddy] is the reason I will be a Cal Poly alumni,” Bryce said. “He was the first person I spoke on the phone with immediately after getting drafted, and will always be someone I can lean on for advice.
“Our baseball family feels extensive with the amount of time my grandpa coached at Santa Barbara High, but my dad and Uncle Teddy have been the ones I cannot thank enough.”
Bryce played his last three seasons at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he boasted a 5.23 ERA and struck out 139 batters in 141 innings pitched.
His draft stock rose in the Cape Cod League in 2022, where he was awarded the CCBL Most Outstanding Pitcher following a summer with a 2.08 ERA and a WHIP of 0.87 while striking out 35 batters in 39 innings.
As a Santa Barbara Don, Bryce was named to the All-Channel League First Team three times as both a hitter and a pitcher.
Bryce is currently training in Tampa, Florida with his fellow draftees until middle to late September. He will likely be assigned to the Yankees’ Low-A affiliate for the 2024 season.