Baseball
Barnes, Griffin
Griffin Barnes
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Griffin Barnes is in his second season on the UCLA baseball staff. He served as the program's Director of Player Development for the 2023 season before earning a promotion to Director of Baseball Operations ahead of the 2024 campaign.
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Barnes arrived in Westwood with an extensive history as a player and coach at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels.
UCLA turned in a banner year in 2025 during his first season as a full-time assistant coach, claiming a share of the Big Ten regular season crown in their inaugural campaign within the conference. The Bruins piled up 48 wins, their highest mark since 2019. UCLA promptlyย secured their 26th NCAA Tournament berthย and 14th under Savageโs leadership. Earning the No. 15 overall seed, UCLA hosted an NCAA Regional at Jackie Robinson Stadium for the first time in six years and made the most of it, sweeping through the bracket with authority. They followed that up by hosting and winning the NCAA Super Regional, dispatching UTSA in consecutive games to punch their sixth ticket to the Men's College World Series.
During their momentous 2025 campaign, the Bruins notched an impressive array of achievements that defined the season. UCLA finished as the seventh ranked defense in the nation with a team fielding percentage of .982. The Bruins led the country in double plays with 66 while Roch Cholowsky and Mulivai Levu headlined the spectacular defense, earning ABCA/Rawlings Gold Gloves at their respective positions. This was the first time two UCLA players received Gold Glove honors in the same season. The Bruins proved to be one of the most prolific offenses in the nation, finishing in the top-25 nationally for runs scored and hits.
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He was a three-year letterwinner at Grand Canyon University from 2015-18, serving as team captain in his junior and senior seasons. He was the Lopesโ primary catcher in the 2018 season, hitting .285 for the year with 17 RBIs. He had a blistering start to that season, batting .361 through his first 26 games.
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After graduating from GCU, Barnes signed as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Angels organization. He spent time with the Orem Owlz and AZL Angels at the rookie-ball level that summer. He went on to make Independent League stops with Monterey, Rocky Mountain, and Saltillo from 2019-22. His high-water mark in Indy ball came with the Rocky Mountain Vibes of the Pioneer League in 2021, slashing .307/.337/.426 over 76 games.
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On the coaching side, Barnes has made stops as an assistant volunteer coach at La Sierra University in Riverside, Calif., and as assistant coach for the varsity baseball team at Esperanza High School in Yorba Linda, Calif. His main emphasis at La Sierra was skill development with the teamโs pitchers and catchers.
ย
Barnes arrived in Westwood with an extensive history as a player and coach at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels.
UCLA turned in a banner year in 2025 during his first season as a full-time assistant coach, claiming a share of the Big Ten regular season crown in their inaugural campaign within the conference. The Bruins piled up 48 wins, their highest mark since 2019. UCLA promptlyย secured their 26th NCAA Tournament berthย and 14th under Savageโs leadership. Earning the No. 15 overall seed, UCLA hosted an NCAA Regional at Jackie Robinson Stadium for the first time in six years and made the most of it, sweeping through the bracket with authority. They followed that up by hosting and winning the NCAA Super Regional, dispatching UTSA in consecutive games to punch their sixth ticket to the Men's College World Series.
During their momentous 2025 campaign, the Bruins notched an impressive array of achievements that defined the season. UCLA finished as the seventh ranked defense in the nation with a team fielding percentage of .982. The Bruins led the country in double plays with 66 while Roch Cholowsky and Mulivai Levu headlined the spectacular defense, earning ABCA/Rawlings Gold Gloves at their respective positions. This was the first time two UCLA players received Gold Glove honors in the same season. The Bruins proved to be one of the most prolific offenses in the nation, finishing in the top-25 nationally for runs scored and hits.
ย
He was a three-year letterwinner at Grand Canyon University from 2015-18, serving as team captain in his junior and senior seasons. He was the Lopesโ primary catcher in the 2018 season, hitting .285 for the year with 17 RBIs. He had a blistering start to that season, batting .361 through his first 26 games.
ย
After graduating from GCU, Barnes signed as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Angels organization. He spent time with the Orem Owlz and AZL Angels at the rookie-ball level that summer. He went on to make Independent League stops with Monterey, Rocky Mountain, and Saltillo from 2019-22. His high-water mark in Indy ball came with the Rocky Mountain Vibes of the Pioneer League in 2021, slashing .307/.337/.426 over 76 games.
ย
On the coaching side, Barnes has made stops as an assistant volunteer coach at La Sierra University in Riverside, Calif., and as assistant coach for the varsity baseball team at Esperanza High School in Yorba Linda, Calif. His main emphasis at La Sierra was skill development with the teamโs pitchers and catchers.
UCLA Baseball Postgame - Coach Savage & Players vs. LSU (June 17, 2025)
Tuesday, June 17
UCLA Baseball Postgame - Coach Savage & Players vs. Arkansas (June 17, 2025)
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UCLA Baseball Postgame - Coach Savage & Players vs. Murray State (June 14, 2025)
Saturday, June 14
Highlights - UCLA Baseball vs. Murray State (June 14, 2025)
Saturday, June 14
