IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine's newest class of incoming student-athletes for the 2018-19 season is here with eight players including three junior college transfers.
 

Player	HT	WT	B/T	Position	Hometown	Previous Schools
Tanner Brubaker	6-5	220	R/R	Pitcher	San Clemente	San Clemente HS - Cal Baptist - Saddleback College
Nathan Church	5-11	175	L/L	OF/Pitcher	Trabuco Canyon	El Toro HS
Brett Garcia	6-2	195	R/R	Pitcher	La Mirada	Valley Christian HS
Darius Garcia	5-9	160	L/L	Pitcher	Cerritos	Gahr HS
Sam Ireland	6-0	170	R/R	Infielder	Mission Viejo	Tesoro HS
John Jensen	6-1	195	L/R	3B/OF	Santa Barbara	Santa Barbara HS - Santa Barbara City College
Brandon Lewis	6-3	215	R/R	Infielder	Porter Ranch	Bishop Alemany HS - L.A. Pierce College
Jae Woo Park	6-1	180	L/R	Infielder	Fullerton	Sunny Hills HS

Tanner Brubaker
Saddleback College (Coach Sommer McCartney)

Tanner Brubaker's size isn't the only thing making waves, he's backed it up on the mound this season with a 12-2 record in his 14 starts, a 1.33 ERA, .198 opponent's batting average, and just 12 walks over 108.1 innings that has caught the attention of scouts. He began his college route at Cal Baptist following his career at San Clemente High School.

"Tanner has proven himself so far to be one of the best junior college pitchers in the state of California.  His fastball can reach into the low 90s, and he shows flashes of a good slider and change up.  Tanner has also done a great job of commanding the strike zone.  We could not be more excited to have Tanner coming in next year and pitching in a big role." - Associate Head Coach Ben Orloff


Nathan Church
El Toro High School (Coach Mike Gonzales)

Nathan Church and El Toro High School are coming off a CIF Division I championship in 2017 and two league titles, and the 2018 squad is primed for another ranking seventh in the state. All this while contributing the mound, in the field, and at the plate. He's taken home hardware all over the place including with his club teams, being named a preseason All-American, and was the MVP of the Loara Tournament in his sophomore season.

"Nathan is an ultra-competitive player that comes from a great high school program at El Toro. He was a key member on a team that won the CIF Championship.  As a position player, Nathan does lots of things well.  He puts together consistent, good at bats and can play defense.  On the mound he pitches in the mid-80s with a plus change up." - Associate Head Coach Ben Orloff


Brett Garcia
Valley Christian High School (Coach Roger Penticoff)

Brett Garcia has tormented his high school opponents on the mound winning 22 games over his four seasons with a combined ERA of 2.01. He struck out 92 hitters in 72 innings as a junior putting together a 9-1 campaign, and has followed that with 80 Ks in 53.2 innings allowing just 36 hits for a 1.83 ERA at Valley Christian High School. He's put his bat to use as well hitting .449 over his high school career with 7 HRs in his senior campaign and over 100 RBIs over all four seasons.

"Brett is a projectable 6'2 right handed pitcher that we believe is only scratching the surface for what he's going to be.  He can already touch 90 with his fastball and shows feel for a slider, curveball, and change.  Brett has been a four year varsity starter and has 80 strikeouts in 53 innings this year." - Associate Head Coach Ben Orloff
  

Darius Garcia
Gahr High School (Coach Gerardo Perez)

Darius Garcia has served a pivotal role at Gahr High School where they've taken home the league title in all three years. He's pitched his way into All-American honors as well in his senior campaign.

"Darius has been a part of a team at Gahr that has won the league championship the previous three years.  He is an athletic, left handed pitcher with a quick arm.  His strength is in his ability to command the off speed pitches.  He helps address our need of being more left handed on the mound." - Associate Head Coach Ben Orloff
 

Sam Ireland
Tesoro High School (Coach Rick Brail)

Sam Ireland has earned preseason All-American distinctions while playing for nearby Tesoro High School which has translated into all-league notoriety following his junior season, and a senior season where he's hitting .358 scoring 24 runs in 30 games in addition to 14 extra-base hits and 14 RBI.

"Sam is very advanced offensively for a high school player.  He has a knack for using the whole field, hitting the ball
on the barrel, and he continues to show more power.  Sam also provides us some defensive versatility and a needed right handed bat to balance the roster." - Associate Head Coach Ben Orloff
 

John Jensen
Santa Barbara City College (Coach Jeff Walker)

John Jensen has been a Santa Barbara lifer earning team MVP honors twice at Santa Barbara High School, a pair of all-league awards, and All-CIF honors as a senior after hitting .492. After moving on to SBCC, Jensen continued to hit going .338 with 4 HR and 20 RBI in his first year, and building on that with 4 more HR in addition to 37 RBI, 11 doubles, a .306 average, and earning double digit stolen bases for the second straight season. Jensen added Scholar-Athlete to his profile his freshman season, and was part of the California Collegiate League champion Santa Barbara Foresters squad over the summer.

"John was the player of the year as a freshman last year and helped lead Santa Barbara City to a conference title.  He has been one of the better junior college hitters in the state the past two seasons.  He is athletic enough to play multiple positions.  We are anticipating John being an impact, middle of the order bat as soon as he shows up on campus." - Associate Head Coach Ben Orloff
  

Brandon Lewis
L.A. Pierce College (Coach Bill Picketts)

Brandon Lewis was a two-time all-league honoree during his time at Bishop Alemany High School where he hit .366 with 7 HR and 30 RBI as a senior. He duplicated that production in his first season at L.A. Pierce College with 9 HR and 39 RBI behind a .419 average. Lewis has ridden that into a .399 average and challenging for the state's best with 17 HR (3rd) and 55 RBI (5th) in an offensive season that has included 6-for-6 performance in March where he had 5 doubles, a HR, and 5 RBIs en route to his second all-conference nod with Pierce. He even played with future Anteater teammates Evan McMillin, Alonzo Garcia, and Jacob Castro last summer with the Conejo Oaks.

"Brandon is a physical, middle of the order presence.  His track record of hitting and hitting for power is very impressive over the last two years.  He is among the best hitters at the junior college level.  Currently he is among the state leaders in home runs and doubles.  He has also added 14 stolen bases.  Brandon is the middle of the lineup, right handed bat that we were looking for going into next year." - Associate Head Coach Ben Orloff


Jae Woo Park
Sunny Hills High School (Coach Arlie Kearney)

The shortstop has been a menace in the Freeway League earning all-league honors in each of his first three seasons, and now he joins his dream school. The preseason California All-American has hit .318 over his high school career highlighted by a junior season hitting .395 with 11 extra-base hits and a glove in the field to match.

"Jae Woo Park is one of the better high school infielders in the state.  He has big upside and will be fun to watch the next four years.  His athleticism and arm strength should allow him to stick at shortstop.  He is also another left handed bat with the ability to hit doubles and triples in our yard.  His skill set is a very good match for the style we want to play." - Associate Head Coach Ben Orloff