SAN BRUNO, Calif. — Santa Clara University baseball sophomore infielder Ben Cleary was named Thursday to the 2025 Preseason all-West Coast Conference team, as announced by the conference.
 
Cleary will lead a veteran returning infield this season while moving over to shortstop after starting 49 games at second base as a true freshman in 2024. He was named to last season's WCC All-Freshman Team after batting .264 with eight doubles, a triple, 17 RBIs, 20 walks, four stolen bases and a .360 on-base percentage. He was an anchor in 2024 for the Broncos on defense, only committing three errors all season in 231 total chances (.987 fielding percentage) while helping turn a team-high 29 double plays.
 
Cleary made his collegiate debut last spring on Opening Day (Feb. 16) at Arizona State as the starting designated hitter and got his first career hits two days later against the Sun Devils, going 2 for 3 with two walks, an RBI and a season-high four runs scored. After a slow start offensively (.189 average through March 12), he would lead all regular starters through the rest of the year with a .298 batting average and .403 on-base percentage (37 games).
 
His offensive rise started with a season-long nine-game hitting streak that raised his batting average by nearly 100 points, from .189 to .280. He slashed .448/.500/.517 during the streak with four multi-hit games, two doubles and an RBI. Cleary finished tied for fourth on the team with 13 multi-hit games and also had two multi-RBI games.
 
Cleary and the Broncos begin their 2025 season on Feb. 14 with a four-game series versus CSUN. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.
 
2025 WCC Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll
 
?1. San Diego - 64 points (8)
?2. Portland - 48 points (1)
?t-3. Gonzaga – 44 points
?t-3. Saint Mary's – 44 points
?5. Santa Clara – 43 points
?6. LMU – 36 points
?7. Pepperdine – 19 points
?8. San Francisco – 17 points
?9. Pacific – 9 points
 
?2025 WCC Baseball Preseason Team (Position Players)
Robbie Ayers, LMU
Ben Cleary, Santa Clara
Brian Duroff, Saint Mary's
Tommy Eisenstat, Gonzaga
Jack Gurevitch, San Diego
Ryan Pierce, Saint Mary's
Justin Rubin, Pepperdine                             
Spencer Scott, Portland
Austin Smith, San Diego
Zach Toglia, Portland
 
2025 WCC Baseball Preseason Team (Pitchers)
Derik Eaquinto, Saint Mary's
Justin Feld, Gonzaga
Carter Gaston, Portland
Logan Reddemann, San Diego
Austin Smith, San Diego