{"id":90676,"date":"2025-12-11T22:30:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T22:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/90676\/"},"modified":"2025-12-11T22:30:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T22:30:09","slug":"dirtbags-announce-11-player-2026-signing-class-under-head-coach-tj-bruce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/90676\/","title":{"rendered":"Dirtbags Announce 11-Player 2026 Signing Class Under Head Coach TJ Bruce"},"content":{"rendered":"

LONG BEACH, Calif.\u2014Long Beach State baseball coach TJ Bruce<\/a> and staff have announced the signing of Bubba Heidler, Keisen Hayden, Joe Coupland, Chris Alzaga, Hayden Vanderhoof, Tristan Ramos, Julian Garcia, Jason Dunham, Gavin Cervantes, Moises Razo, and Evan Ellis to National Letters of Intent to continue their playing careers at the Beach.<\/p>\n

“We are incredibly excited about our 2026 recruiting class. I want to thank our entire staff for the tremendous effort they put into assembling this outstanding group of student-athletes. Not only is this a talented and competitive class, but these players also come from some of the most successful and well-coached programs in the country. We’re confident this group will make it an immediate and lasting impact on the Dirtbags Baseball program,” Bruce said.<\/p>\n

Bubba Heidler \u2022 INF \u2022 6-0 \u2022 170 \u2022 Menifee, Calif. \u2022 Riverside City College

\nInfielder Bubba Heidler joins Long Beach State from Riverside City College, where he earned First Team honors in the Orange Empire Conference. As a freshman, he produced a standout season, hitting .385 with a .417 slugging percentage, a .385 on-base percentage, and an .860 OPS. In 2025, he scored 48 runs, drove in 30 RBI, and added nine doubles and one home run while helping Riverside City College to a 31\u201314 record and the No. 2 seed in the OEC Baseball Standings. Described by the coaching staff as a “prototypical Dirtbag shortstop from one of the best Junior Colleges in the country,” Heidler arrives as a strong addition to the 2026 class.<\/p>\n

Keisen Hayden \u2022 LHP \u2022 6-3 \u2022 195 \u2022 Grass Valley, Calif. \u2022 Folsom Lake College

\nLeft-handed pitcher Keisen Hayden arrives at Long Beach State following a strong campaign at Folsom Lake College, where he pitched under Bob Kittle and Jon Peters. In 2025, he appeared in 15 games with 13 starts, posting an 8\u20134 record and earning Second Team All-Big 8 Conference honors as a starting pitcher. He recorded a 3.45 ERA over 73 innings, striking out 97 batters while holding opponents to a .193 average. Viewed by the coaching staff as “one of the top junior colleges LHPs in the country poised to make an immediate impact,” Hayden strengthens the Dirtbags’ 2026 pitching class.<\/p>\n

Joe Coupland \u2022 C \u2022 6-1 \u2022 190 \u2022 Danville, Calif. \u2022 Chatbot College

\nCatcher Joe Coupland joins Long Beach State from Chatbot College after earning Second Team All-Coast Conference North honors in 2025. Playing for Bryce Mendonca, he showcased significant power production last season, recording eight home runs, 30 RBI, and a .556 slugging percentage. Identified by the coaching staff as an “athletic catcher with big power,” Coupland adds a strong offensive presence to the Dirtbags’ 2026 class.<\/p>\n

Chris Alzaga \u2022 RHP \u2022 6-4 \u2022 180 \u2022 Danville, Calif. \u2022 Aquinas HS

\nRight-handed pitcher Chris Alzaga signs with Long Beach State following a strong career at Aquinas High School, where he played under Mike Carpentier. Over his Aquinas tenure, he posted a 4\u20132 record with a 2.33 ERA across 51 innings, recording 51 strikeouts and holding opponents to a .193 batting average. He helped lead Aquinas to a 25\u20133 season and the 2025 Ambassador League championship. Considered by the coaching staff to be a “high ceiling RHP with potential to be a front of the rotation starter,” Alzaga brings notable upside to the Dirtbags’ 2026 class.<\/p>\n

Hayden Vanderhoof \u2022 RHP \u2022 6-0 \u2022 170 \u2022 Upland, Calif. \u2022 Aquinas HS

\nRight-handed pitcher Hayden Vanderhoof signs with Long Beach State after a successful 2025 season at Aquinas High School, where he played for Mike Carpentier and contributed to the team’s 25\u20133 record and Ambassador League championship. During the 2025 campaign, he posted a 5\u20131 record with a 3.82 ERA over 29 innings, registering 32 strikeouts. Viewed by the coaching staff as “one of the fastest rising pitchers in the 2026 class,” Vanderhoof is expected to make an immediate impression within the Dirtbags’ 2026 class.<\/p>\n

Tristan Ramos \u2022 RHP \u2022 6-1 \u2022 210 \u2022 Costa Mesa, Calif. \u2022 Mater Dei HS

\nRight-handed pitcher Tristan Ramos joins Long Beach State from Mater Dei High School after transferring from Orange Lutheran and competing under head coach Richard Mercardo. Identified by the coaching staff as a “power arm with a power bat ready to make an impact on the mound and at the plate,” Ramos adds a dynamic two-way element to the Dirtbags’ incoming class.<\/p>\n

Julian Garcia \u2022 RHP \u2022 6-3 \u2022 205 \u2022 Bellflower, Calif. \u2022 St. John Bosco HS

\nRight-handed pitcher Julian Garcia joins Long Beach State from St. John Bosco High School, where he plays for former LBSU assistant Andy Rojo. Although sidelined by injury in 2025, he previously delivered an exceptional 2024 season, posting an 8\u20132 record with a 1.86 ERA across 71 innings while striking out 71 batters. He was also selected to participate in the 2025 Area Code Games with the Brewers. Garcia was a part of St. John Bosco’s dominant 30\u20134 campaign, which culminated in Trinity League, CIF Southern Section Division 1, and CIF Division 1 State championships. Viewed by the coaching staff as “one of the top arms in the 2026 class that will compete for a weekend rotation immediately,” Garcia adds a rotation-ready presence to the Dirtbags’ 2026 class.<\/p>\n

Jason Dunham \u2022 INF \u2022 6-2 \u2022 175 \u2022 Huntington Beach, Calif. \u2022 Huntington Beach HS

\nInfielder Jason Dunham joins Long Beach State from Huntington Beach High School and was selected to the 2025 Area Code Games as a member of the Brewers. Although he missed the 2025 season due to injury, his earlier performance included an 8\u20132 record with a 1.86 ERA across 71 innings and 71 strikeouts. He competed under former LBSU assistant Andy Rojo and was part of St. John Bosco’s 30\u20134 season that resulted in Trinity League, CIF Southern Section Division 1, and CIF Division 1 State championships. Described by the coaching staff as a “hard-nosed middle infielder with Dirtbag lineage,” Dunham adds grit and heritage to the Dirtbags’ 2026 class.<\/p>\n

Gavin Cervantes \u2022 RHP \u2022 6-0 \u2022 173 \u2022 Downey, Calif. \u2022 St. John Bosco HS

\nRight-handed pitcher Gavin Cervantes arrives at Long Beach State following a dominant 2025 season at St. John Bosco High School, where he plays under former LBSU assistant Andy Rojo. He posted an 8\u20130 record with a 1.20 ERA while holding opponents to a .217 average, earning First Team All-Trinity League and All-CIF Southern Section honors. Cervantes played a key role in St. John Bosco’s 30\u20134 season that culminated in Trinity League, CIF Southern Section Division 1, and CIF Division 1 State championships. Described by the coaching staff as a “highly competitive, big-game pitcher that helped lead his high school team to a state championship,” he brings a proven winning pedigree to the Dirtbags’ 2026 class.<\/p>\n

Moises Razo \u2022 OF\/1B \u2022 6-2 \u2022 180 \u2022 El Monte, Calif. \u2022 St John Bosco HS

\nOutfielder and first baseman Moises Razo joins Long Beach State from St. John Bosco High School, where he plays under former LBSU assistant Andy Rojo and contributed to the program’s 30\u20134 season that resulted in Trinity League, CIF Southern Section Division 1, and CIF Division 1 State championships. In 2025, he posted a .295 average with 20 RBI and 10 stolen bases. Identified by the coaching staff as a “left-handed hitting athlete that made huge strides this summer and is poised for a breakout year in 2026,” Razo brings continued development and breakout potential to Long Beach State.<\/p>\n

Evan Ellis \u2022 RHP \u2022 6-3 \u2022 210 \u2022 Glendora, Calif. \u2022 Chaffey College

\nRight-handed pitcher Evan Ellis joins Long Beach State after competing at Chaffey College in 2025, where he played a role in the program’s Inland Empire Conference championship. During the 2025 season, he posted a 2.70 ERA over 13.1 innings, striking out 24 batters while limiting opponents to a .204 average. Identified by the coaching staff as a “mature power arm with the stuff to start or close,” Ellis adds a dependable and versatile presence to the Dirtbags’ 2026 rotation and bullpen mix.

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