Team Detail

Baseball’s Jack Meissner to Play at UC Santa Barbara

10/24/2023

Senior baseball player Jack Meissner committed to playing baseball and attending school at UC Santa Barbara next fall.

“I always wanted to go to college in California and I love being by the beach,” said Meissner. “There is no school closer to the beach than Santa Barbara. The coaching staff at Santa Barbara made me feel really wanted there. They had a set out a plan for me from the beginning.”

Meissner connected with the Gaucho staff and Head Coach Andrew Checketts.

“It's all team baseball and about team chemistry,” said Meissner of the program’s vibe. “It is a big family feeling versus everyone doing their own thing.”

Checketts had UCSB in the postseason most recently in 2023 after winning the second Big West title in three seasons and earned a berth in NCAA Regional play for the fifth time in the past seven seasons. During his tenure, the Gauchos have had 53 Major League Baseball draftees, 11 All-America selections, 10 Freshman All-America picks, and numerous All-Big West selections.

“I am excited to continue to play a sport I love and have played since I was five years old,” said Meissner, who plans to study communications or economics. “It is great to continue to play at the highest level I can.”

Meissner led the Brophy team in hitting at .494 with a team-best 27 RBI and 25 runs scored as a junior. He had 16 multi-hit games including a season-best four hits against Pinnacle in the state playoff game. He also recorded a .550 on-base percentage and 1.148 OPS on the season.

“Jack emerged as one of the top players in the state last spring, earning All-Premier Region and AZBCA All-State honors,” said Head Coach Josh Garcia ‘07. “He was not only rock solid in our batting lineup, he has turned himself into one of the top defensive third basemen in the state.”

Meissner joins a group of five baseball players who have committed to play baseball in college including Johnny Casale (LMU), Willie Cornejo-Farmer (LMU), Jack Ohman, Yale), Trey Markham (Rice) and George Smith (Regis).

“I am excited to continue to play with the kids I have grown up with one last time,” said Meissner of his senior season. “We have been getting ready since the end of the season. Everyone has been working as hard as they can in the weight room on and off the field. It should be a fun year to compete.”

“We want to win a state championship,” said Meissner. “I am excited to see how everyone has grown and has gotten better around me. I am looking forward to everyone having a great year.”

Meissner will participate in the Brophy Signing Day Celebration on Nov. 8.