Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics
Stafford Named to Big West Preseason Coaches’ Team
2/12/2024 12:52:00 PM | Baseball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — With the start of baseball season later this week, Cal Poly junior catcher Ryan Stafford has already earned his first honor of 2024. Monday, Stafford was named to the Big West Preseason Coaches' Team.
Stafford is one of 11 players selected to the Preseason Coaches' Team. The Big West also released its Preseason Poll in which the Mustangs were selected to finish seventh.
In 2023, Stafford was named Second Team All-Big West after hitting .313 with a team-leading 20 doubles to go with seven home runs and 44 RBIs. Stafford also threw out 11 would-be base stealers for the second straight year and picked off three other runners. He was 22-for-50 (.440) with 10 multiple-hit games in a 12-game stretch.
This past summer, Stafford participated on the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team under Cal Poly head coach Larry Lee. In six games with Team USA, Stafford recorded three hits.
In 2022, Stafford earned Freshman All-American honors from both Collegiate Baseball News and Baseball America after hitting .321 with 16 doubles, one triple, three home runs and 33 RBIs.
In the Big West Preseason Poll, the coaches picked UCSB, ranked No. 17 in the country in the Preseason Top 25 Poll, to finish first after receiving nine of 11 first place votes. UC Irvine received the other two first place votes and finished second in the poll. Last year's champion UC San Diego was selected third. Hawai'i and CSUN rounded out the top five.
UCSB, UC Irvine, and UC San Diego each had three players selected to the Preseason Coaches' Team. Cal Poly and CSUN had the other two.
Cal Poly kicks off its 2023 campaign this week hosting Missouri for a four game series beginning Friday at Baggett Stadium.
Players Mentioned
C
/ BaseballCal Poly vs. San Jose St, Baseball Highlights -- Apr 7th, 2026
Wednesday, April 08
Cal Poly vs. UC Davis, Baseball Highlights -- Mar 22nd, 2026
Sunday, March 22
Cal Poly vs. UC Davis, Baseball Highlights -- Mar 21st, 2026
Sunday, March 22
Cal Poly vs. CSUB, Baseball Highlights -- Mar 15th, 2026
Monday, March 16
