Former Forester and current Texas Ranger celebrates a win by dousing Bill Pintard with a water bucket. Jung will be inducted into the program's hall of fame in late January. (Courtesy Photo)

Since 2006, the Santa Barbara Foresters have won 10 national baseball championships, and have sent more than 60 players to the Major Leagues. 

In 2023, two of those former players—third baseman Josh Jung and coach Brett Hayes of the Texas Rangers—became the first former Foresters to win World Series rings. 

Jung and Hayes will join longtime Major League pitcher and two-year Forester Dana Eveland in being inducted into the Foresters Hall of Fame on Sunday, January 28. 

Fans and local supporters are invited to buy tickets to come and support the team and the Hugs for Cubs, as well as enjoy a great evening of fabulous food, great wine, and lots of baseball talk.

Tickets are on sale now at the Foresters website at www.sbforesters.org for the event, which will run from 4 to 8 pm at the Cabrillo Pavilion; kids and families are welcome!

“We were thrilled to watch Josh and Brett win the Series,” said Foresters manager Bill Pintard. “And we’re very excited to see them again to congratulate them in person and welcome them to the Hall. 

“It’s one of our biggest events of the year and we look forward to seeing fans, family, and friends.”

Here’s a look at the Hall of Famers that attendees will meet:

Josh Jung

This former Texas Tech Red Raider was with the Foresters in 2017 when he hit .341 and led the team with 20 RBI while playing lights-out defense. Two years later, Josh was chosen eighth overall (one of the highest Foresters draft picks ever) by the Rangers. 

He debuted in late 2022 and by the start of the ’23 season had grabbed the starting spot at the hot corner. He was a two-time AL Rookie of the Month, helping power the Rangers with 23 homers and 70 RBI on the season while earning a spot on the starting line for the AL All-Star Team. 

Josh was a key part of the team’s surprising run through the AL playoffs, and then hit .350 as the Rangers beat the Diamondbacks to win the franchise’s first World Series. He is the first Foresters player to earn a World Series ring.

Brett Hayes

A catcher with the University of Nevada, Brett was a Forester in 2003, where he helped the team to a runner-up finish in the NBC World Series (and an “American” championship, as the team the Foresters lost to in the final was from Taiwan!). 

He was drafted in the second round by the then-Florida Marlins in 2005 and made his big-league debut in 2009. He later played for Kansas City and Cleveland, before moving into scouting. He became the Rangers bullpen coach in 2022 and in 2023 joined the celebration as his team won the 2023 World Series.

Dana Eveland

Dana has pitched all around the world, starting at Hill College in Texas, then with the Foresters in 2002, and then 11 Major League seasons with 10 teams from 2005 to 2016 (including 2011 with the LA Dodgers!) . . . plus stints in Korea and Mexico! 

He is a regular player in the Foresters golf tournament and a big supporter of the Hugs for Cubs. His brother Kyle is also a former ’Ster.

That trio will join more than 25 other people (and the 2006 national championship team) in the Foresters Hall of Fame, a group that will now include 14 Major Leaguers. 

The Hugs for Cubs program that helps kids and families battling cancer is represented by the late Eric Pintard and Chris Messier. Other HOF members include longtime volunteers and supporters.

Baseball fans will also enjoy hearing from and meeting special guest, another former Major Leaguer, Roy Howell. The 11-year Major Leaguer played at Lompoc High and was the first-round draft pick of the Texas Rangers in 1972.

The Foresters board of directors invites Foresters fans, family, and friends to come to get tickets for the Hall of Fame event, which will include food, wine, and beer provided by many generous local sponsors.

Tickets are $75 for adults, $25 for kids 5-17, and kids 5 and under free. Groups can also buy a table of eight.

Not able to attend? You can still support the Hugs for Cubs by sponsoring a Hugs for Cubs kid for 2024. Information on that and all Hall of Fame tickets are available

For more information, visit www.sbforesters.org, or write to info@sbforesters.org.