For many years, Southern California has established itself as a breeding ground for talent on the diamond.
The Santa Barbara area is no excuse, with local high school baseball standouts frequently reaching the next level and UCSB growing into one of the best baseball programs in the nation.
As a result, the number of former local high school stars and UCSB Gauchos in professional baseball has significantly grown in recent years.
Here is a look at the Santa Barbara locals across different levels of professional baseball and the former Gauchos who have reached the highest level: Major League Baseball.
Santa Barbara Locals in the Pros
Isaac Coffey – Boston Red Sox Org. RHP
Coffey, a Dos Pueblos alum, has been marching up the Red Sox minor-league ranks since he was selected in the 10th round of the 2022 MLB Draft, and he currently is a member of the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox.
However, the right-hander has been on the injured list since May 13th and was transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 16th. The nature of the injury is unknown.
Coffey, who recently turned 26, had a 4.18 ERA in 23 â…” innings this season before hitting the shelf. In 304 career innings throughout the minor leagues, he holds a 3.73 ERA and has struck out 376 batters.
James McCann – Arizona Diamondbacks C
McCann is in the 13th season of his MLB career and his second with the Diamondbacks after the former Dos Pueblos Charger was signed in June of last year.
The catcher has accumulated just 59 big-league at-bats this season as he serves as Arizona’s backup catcher. However, McCann has also been on the injured list with a strained quad since May 19th.
In his 13-year MLB career, the veteran has accumulated 777 hits, 97 home runs and 396 RBIs. Defensively, he has caught a total of 7,573 innings
Jeff McNeil – Athletics 2B/OF
McNeil is also one of the most tenured Santa Barbara locals at the MLB level, as the former Goleta Valley South LL All-Star and Nipomo High Titan is currently in the ninth season of his career.
After spending his first eight seasons with the New York Mets, the 34-year-old was traded to the Athletics in the offseason and is in his first year with a new club.
The utilityman has been a veteran presence on a youthful Athletics squad, putting together a slash line of .237/.309/.319 with three homers in 74 games played.
Cole Schoenwetter – Cincinnati Reds Org. RHP
Schoenwetter is one of the most recent Santa Barbara locals to join the professional baseball ranks after he was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the fourth round of the 2023 MLB Draft.
The 21-year-old San Marcos High alum is currently with the High-A Dayton Dragons and has put up a 5.09 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched during the 2026 season.
Schoenwetter has appeared in just six games this year and has been on the 7-day injured list since May 7. In his career, he has a 5.97 ERA and has accumulated 153 â…” innings pitched across three minor-league levels.
Gabe Speier – Seattle Mariners LHP
Speier is another Dos Pueblos High alum who has made his mark at the MLB level, as he is now in his eighth season in the MLB and his fourth with the Mariners.
While the lefthander spent about a month on the shelf earlier in the season, he has put together a strong year when healthy. Through 19 innings out of the bullpen, he has a 1.89 ERA and 19 strikeouts.
Speier also put Santa Barbara on the global map in March, as he represented Team USA at the World Baseball Classic. He made three appearances for Team USA, which finished as the runner-up to Venezuela.
Derek True – Houston Astros Org. RHP
True is a 2019 graduate of Santa Barbara High and has since then played four seasons at Cal Poly SLO and was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 18th Round of the 2023 MLB Draft.
The right-hander began his professional career at the Rookie Ball level and has worked his way up to begin the 2026 season with the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks.
True has made nine appearances out of the bullpen, allowing 10 earned runs in 13 innings while racking up 18 strikeouts along the way.
Bryce Warrecker – New York Yankees Org. RHP
Warrecker followed the same path as True, graduating from Santa Barbara High in 2020 and playing at Cal Poly SLO before being drafted in the 20th Round of the 2023 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees.
The 6-foot-8 right-handed pitcher has pitched across three minor-league levels since 2023, and he has spent the 2026 season at both the Single-A and High-A levels.
In 19 â…“ innings pitched this season, Warrecker has put together a 1.86 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP to go along with his 15 strikeouts.
UCSB Gauchos in MLB
Shane Bieber – Toronto Blue Jays RHP
Bieber has been the most common name associated with Gauchos in the pros in recent years, as the 31-year-old is currently in the midst of his ninth season at the MLB level. He is a two-time All-Star, a Gold Glove winner and was the 2020 American League Cy Young.
The right-hander has been on the injured list for the majority of the season with a right elbow injury, but he was activated for his first outing with the big-league club on Tuesday, June 23.
While he struggled a bit to find his groove with four earned runs on nine hits in 3 â…” innings against the Astros, he will look to settle in as the season reaches the dog days of summer.
Bieber and the Blue Jays are coming off an American League pennant and a World Series appearance during the 2025 season. Bieber had a 3.86 ERA in 18 ⅔ innings during Toronto’s postseason run.
Michael McGreevy – St. Louis Cardinals RHP
McGreevy has made a big leap in his second significant season at the MLB level with the Cardinals, cementing himself as a key member of the team’s starting rotation.
The 25-year-old right-hander currently boasts a 3.35 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 83 â…“ innings for a young St. Louis squad that holds a record of 42-36.Â
He has started 15 games this year, already closing in on his career-high of 16 in a season that he should blow out of the water as long as he stays healthy.
Skip Schumaker – Texas Rangers Manager
Schumaker, who graduated from UCSB in 2001, has parlayed his 11-year MLB career into a managerial career. After managing the Marlins in 2023 and 2024, he is currently in his first season as the head coach of the Rangers.
While Schumaker and Texas sit at 39-42, the team remains just 1 ½ games behind the Seattle Mariners for first place in the American League West.
Schumaker is the first UCSB alum to become an MLB manager, and has a combined record of 184-220 through 2 ½ seasons. In 2023, he was named the National League Manager of the Year for leading the Marlins to an 84-78 mark and a postseason appearance.
Did I miss anybody? Contact me at dsandoval@noozhawk.com if there are any former Santa Barbara County locals in professional baseball or UCSB Gauchos in MLB!