With the 2025 Major League Baseball season underway, the sport dubbed “America’s Pastime” is as global as it has ever been.
From Shohei Ohtani to Juan Soto, the league is rich with international talent from every corner of the world. That being said, there is also plenty of talent in the United States.
Some of that talent can be traced back to the local Santa Barbara area, as there are plenty of former local high school standouts either in the Big Leagues or working their way up the ranks to get there.
Here is a look at the former local stars who are now competing at the highest of levels.
Isaac Coffey – Boston Red Sox
Coffey, a Dos Pueblos graduate, has climbed up the ranks of the Boston Red Sox Organization following a strong collegiate career at Oral Roberts.
The right-handed starting pitcher logged 113 ⅔ innings in 2024, pitching to the tune of a 3.17 ERA while striking out 148 at the Double-A level.
He will kick off the 2025 season on the Triple-A Worcestor Red Sox with his sights set on a debut with the Major League squad in Boston.
Kevin Gowdy – Toronto Blue Jays
Gowdy, a right-handed pitcher from Santa Barbara High, experienced some career shakeup in the off-season as he entered free agency and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
The formerly highly-touted prospect for the Phillies also received a Spring Training invitation from the big league club, where he contributed 8 ⅓ innings while allowing five runs and striking out three.
Gowdy will look to impress early for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, just one step away from joining the big league club in Toronto.
James McCann – Atlanta Braves
McCann, a Dos Pueblos alum, entered free agency in the offseason following his 11th season at the Major League level.
The catcher who played in 65 games in 2024 and hit to the tune of .667 OPS did not find a home until March 21, when the Braves offered him a minor league contract.
McCann will likely take some time to ramp up at the Triple-A level for the Gwinnett Stripers to begin the regular season before potentially joining the big league club as a depth piece.
Jeff McNeil – New York Mets
McNeil may be the most prevalent local product at the big-league level, earning two All-Star Game appearances in his seven years with the Mets.
The Goleta Valley South Little League and Nipomo High School alum battled through injuries in 2024, playing in 129 games and registering an OPS of .692.
The utility man will begin the 2025 season on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain. The Mets will turn to Brett Baty to fill in at second base while McNeil is out.
Cole Schoenwetter – Cincinnati Reds
Schoenwetter, 20, is one of the latest Santa Barbara area standouts to reach the professional ranks after the Reds drafted him in the 2023 Draft. He graduated from San Marcos High School.
The right-hander is the No. 26 prospect in the organization and was invited to play in Cincinnati’s Spring Breakout Game, which features the top prospects from each organization. He tossed a scoreless inning of relief while striking out two batters.
He will begin the 2025 season on the pitching staff of the Single-A Daytona Tortugas, where he contributed 15 ⅔ innings last season.
Gabe Speier – Seattle Mariners
Speier, a former Dos Pueblos Charger, is the lone Santa Barbara area local to be an active member of a Major League Opening Day Roster.
The lefty is entering the seventh year of his big league career and his third with Seattle. He dealt with some injuries last season and is coming off 7 ⅔ innings during 2025 Spring Training, where he showcased improved stuff.
Speier is slated to play a role in the Seattle bullpen, backing up what projects to be one of the league’s top starting rotations in 2025.
Jake Steels – Atlanta Braves
Steels, a Righetti High graduate, was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 18th Round of the 2024 MLB Draft following a collegiate career at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
The outfielder appeared in 12 games last season for the Single-A Augusta GreenJackets, going 9-for-39 with three RBI and two stolen bases.
He will look to make some noise in the lower levels of the organization in the 2025 campaign as he hopes to rise closer to the Big League club.
Derek True – Houston Astros
True was a standout pitcher at Santa Barbara High and was drafted in 2023 after a successful career at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
The 23-year-old appeared in 25 games in 2024 across two levels, tossing 97 ⅓ innings and striking out 107 batters.
He will kick off the 2025 season with the High-A Asheville Tourists, the team he ended his 2024 campaign with.
Bryce Warrecker – New York Yankees
Warrecker has enjoyed a similar career path to True, graduating from the Santa Barbara High Dons to the Cal Poly Mustangs before being drafted in 2023.
The righthander accumulated 65 ⅓ innings across three different levels last season, ending the year with a 5.79 ERA and 46 strikeouts.
He will begin this year where he left off in 2024 with the Hudson Valley Renegades, the organization’s High-A affiliate.
San Marcos alum Ian Churchill and Cabrillo High graduate Danny Duffy are currently free agents.