The expectations for the UCLA Bruin baseball team is pretty clear: Win the program’s second-ever College World Series championship. The Bruins roster is absolutely loaded, with players opting to play for UCLA rather than head to the pros. The Bruins have three All-America infielders.
UCLA is expected to have the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s MLB Draft with shortstop Roch Cholowsky, and he’s joined by All-Americans third baseman Roman Martin and first baseman Mulivai Levu. While the bats get plenty of attention, UCLA has added pitchers Logan Reddemann in the transfer portal and recruited Angel Cervantes to help give the Bruins’ staff some more depth. The additions, along with Wylan Moss and Michael Barnett gives the UCLA rotation plenty of talented arms.
The Bruins also play in the Big Ten Conference, which isn’t the most competitive baseball conference, which should allow UCLA to keep their top arms fresh for the CWS late in the season. UCLA is the only team ranked in the Big Ten, while the SEC has five schools in the Top-10.
UCLA has plenty of experience, with the Bruins winning 48 games last season and having John Savage as their head coach. Savage has been with the school for over two decades and has racked up 724 wins entering the 2026 season. Last year’s CWS appearance was the first in over a decade for the Bruins and now they’ll set their target even higher.
The Bruins program will be in good shape moving forward but 2026 will possibly be the team’s best chance to bring another CWS title back to Westwood. It’ll be a true test for Savage and his team to pace themselves throughout the season and play their best baseball when it’s needed in the CWS.
UCLA kicks off their season this Friday against UC San Diego with a three-game series at home to begin the 2026 campaign.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA baseball preview: 2026 Bruins have CWS championship goals
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
