13 Bears Start 2025 In MLB Camps

Caleb Lomavita is in big league camp with the Washington Nationals this spring.

BASE2/20/2025 7:39 PM | By: Cal Athletics

List Includes 6 Who Played In Major Leagues In 2024

The California baseball program had 13 former players in Major League Baseball spring training camps when the first game of spring training was played between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs on Thursday in Glendale, Arizona. Former Cal players begin their action Friday when another five spring training games are played before all 32 MLB teams are scheduled to play Sunday.

Former Cal players in big league camps on Thursday include OF Dylan Beavers (Baltimore Orioles), INF Darren Baker (Washington Nationals), RHP Tanner Dodson (Athletics), RHP Lucas Erceg (Kansas City Royals), RHP Grant Holman (Athletics), C Korey Lee (Chicago White Sox), C Caleb Lomavita (Washington Nationals), INF Nathan Martorella (Florida Marlins), manager Bob Melvin (San Francisco Giants), INF Marcus Semien (Texas Rangers), RHP Sean Sullivan (Pittsburgh Pirates), INF Andrew Vaughn (Chicago White Sox) and RHP Steven Zobac (Kansas City Royals).

Baker, Erceg, Holman, Lee, Semien and Vaughn have all played previously in the big leagues and are currently on 40-man rosters.

Erceg was among nine players on MLB rosters during the 2024 regular season and one who advanced to the league's playoffs. Erceg had 14 saves in a combined 61 appearances for Kansas City and Oakland. He was traded from the A's to the Royals on July 30 and picked up 11 of his saves with the Royals including in all three games of a sweep at Washington in the final week of the regular season that helped the Royals clinch an American League Wild Card playoff spot. Erceg then saved all three Kansas City victories in the postseason as the Royals swept Baltimore in the AL Wild Card Series before dropping three of four to the Yankees in an AL Division Series.

Erceg was not the only former Cal player who had success in the Major Leagues in 2024.

Baker was called up by the Nationals on Sept. 1 and singled as a pinch hitter on the first Major League pitch he saw. He finished with seven hits in 14 at bats for a .500 batting average in limited MLB action.

Holman made his big league debut in Oakland on Aug. 17 after an incredible season for two minor league teams with AA Midland and AAA Las Vegas (40 G, 25 GF, 4-0, 0.55 ERA, 9 SV). He pitched out of the bullpen in 16 of Oakland's remaining 40 games and picked up his first big league win in a 7-6 12-inning victory over Detroit on Sept. 6. He was also credited with holds in each of his first five appearances.

Semien became the first Rangers' player ever to start back-to-back All-Star Games, while playing in 159 games and belting out 23 home runs with 74 runs driven in. Vaughn and Lee played 149 and 125 games, respectively, for the Chicago White Sox. Vaughn hit .246 with 19 home runs and drove in 70, while also contributing 30 doubles. Lee batted .210 with 12 home runs and 37 RBI.

Beavers, Dodson, Lomavita, Martorella, Sullivan and Zobac are non-roster invitees still looking to make their MLB regular-season debuts.

A full list of former Cal players and their 2024 professional teams is below.  

2025 California Baseball Training Camp Invitees

 NAME – POS – 2025 MLB TRAINING CAMPDarren Baker – INF – Washington NationalsDylan Beavers – OF – Baltimore OriolesTanner Dodson – RHP – AthleticsLucas Erceg – RHP – Kansas City RoyalsGrant Holman – RHP – AthleticsKorey Lee – C – Chicago White SoxCaleb Lomavita – C – Washington NationalsNathan Martorella – INF – Florida MarlinsBob Melvin – Manager – San Francisco GiantsMarcus Semien – INF – Texas RangersSean Sullivan – RHP – Pittsburgh PiratesAndrew Vaughn – OF – Chicago White SoxSteven Zobac – RHP – Kansas City Royals STAY POSTEDFor coverage of Cal baseball, please follow the Bears on X (@CalBaseball) and Instagram (@CalBaseball).