This post was updated Feb. 14 at 2:04 a.m.

It’s been nearly 12 years since the Bruins’ last trip to the College World Series.

And almost three since their last appearance in the NCAA tournament.

But a new season begins Friday when UCLA baseball takes on Cal Poly for a three-game series at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Coming off their worst season in nearly 20 years, the Bruins were voted to finish fourth in the conference by the Big Ten preseason coaches poll. And while UCLA begins the year unranked, it received votes in both the NCBWA and USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches polls.

“We really want to reestablish our identity as a program,” said coach John Savage. “We really like our roster and our mindset, … so we’re looking forward to building this team and getting back to where we think we want to go.”

Savage said UCLA’s starting infield will be composed entirely of sophomores – players that made up Baseball America’s No. 1 incoming class a year ago – with Cashel Dugger behind the dish, Mulivai Levu at first, Phoenix Call at second, Roman Martin at third and Roch Cholowsky at shortstop.

“The want to win is a lot more evident than it was last year,” Cholowsky said. “I just think the buy-in is going to be really big for us this year.”

D1Baseball listed Cholowsky and Call as the No. 9 shortstop and No. 47 second baseman in the nation in its preseason rankings. Cholowsky, who slashed .308/.399/.500 in a Freshman All-American campaign last season, was named to the 2025 Big Ten Players to Watch List – a distinction he shares with sophomore outfielder Dean West and junior right-hander Cody Delvecchio.

Savage named Delvecchio, who D1Baseball dubbed the No. 73 starting pitcher in the nation, the Friday night starter. The Mission Hills, California, local follows in the footsteps of Luke Jewett, Alonzo Tredwell and Max Rajcic as Bruin pitchers to make the jump from the backend of the bullpen to a regular in the weekend rotation over the past four seasons.

Sophomore right-hander Landon Stump will be the Sunday starter while West, redshirt sophomore Payton Brennan and redshirt senior AJ Salgado remain leading options in the outfield, Savage said.

The Bruins were locked out of Jackie Robinson Stadium – their home of over 44 years – on Sept. 26 after a United States district judge ruled UCLA’s lease with the Department of Veterans Affairs illegal. For more than a month, Savage’s team practiced at alternate training sites across Los Angeles.

However, the judge ruled Oct. 29 that the Bruins could use the stadium for the 2025 season.

“The resiliency, the ability to take on adversity really has been a character builder for our players,” Savage said. “The guys have responded so well, having each other’s back, believing in one another and believing in the program.”

Perfect Game named UCLA’s eight freshmen the No. 44 incoming cohort in the nation. Right-hander Wylan Moss, ranked the No. 138 player in his class by Perfect Game, headlines the group and posted a 0.90 ERA in his senior season while striking out 82 in 60 innings.

Savage brought in three transfers, all pitchers, during the offseason. Ian May was named the No. 113 starting pitcher in the country by D1Baseball and the Saturday starter by Savage. The redshirt junior left-hander opened the 2023 season with 16 shutout innings before an elbow injury limited his contributions for the rest of his career at California.

“I really want to keep the team in a position to win,” May said. “I want to do my role on the field putting up zeros on the scoreboard and keeping my team ahead in the game.”

Graduate student transfers left-hander Ryan Rissas and right-hander August Souza will find homes in the Bruin bullpen, Savage said. Rissas and Souza combined for just 10.2 innings pitched in 2024 but bring the experience of 138 collegiate innings to Westwood.

The Bruins haven’t faced the Mustangs since dropping two of three in March 2021.

Cal Poly finished tied for third in the Big West last season and was picked to finish third in the conference in the 2025 coaches poll. Third baseman Alejandro Garza and right-hander Griffin Naess were named to the All-Big West Preseason Team after being named Big West Freshman Field Player of the Year and Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year, respectively, last season. In 2024, Garza hit .346 across 56 games while Naess went 7-0 with a 3.58 ERA.

Nearly nine months since their last game, the Bruins are eager to get the show started. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday.

“I just want to see where we’re at. You really do not know until you go play somebody,” Savage said. “It’ll be fun. Our guys are ready physically, emotionally and mentally.”