With the 2025 baseball season just around the corner, the Santa Rosa Junior College Bear Cubs will feature several returners and several new faces all of whom are looking to build off of a strong 2024.
Headlining the lineup for the Bear Cubs is first baseman Josh Martin. As a middle-of-the-order bat for SRJC in 2024, the true freshman hit .295 with five home runs and 38 RBI. Remarkably, Martin struck out only eight times in 222 plate appearances.
Early in pre-season, Martin has looked like an even more polished hitter with improved power to all fields.
Leading the pitching staff is Jordan Giacomini. Also a true freshman in 2024, Giacomini posted a 4.83 ERA in 72 ⅔ innings.
In the fall, Giacomini committed to play Division 1 at the University of Nevada, Reno for the 2026 season.
Amongst the other sophomores, brothers Brice and Mason Cox will look to continue their contributions on the mound and behind the plate respectively.

Finally, second baseman Joe Brown will be making a return after missing the entire 2024 season. In 2023, Brown hit .324 with three home runs and 26 RBI.
“He’s a welcome addition,” assistant coach Tom Francois said. “The guy is just so smooth out there. He’s got a good baseball IQ. That’s as important as having good ability.”
Headlining the Bear Cubs’ newcomers is true freshman catcher JT Summers. In two years of varsity at Casa Grande High School, Summers hit .331 with three home runs and 47 RBI.
Summers projects to have elite power at the Junior College level. He will likely be the starting designated hitter with Cox and sophomore Cameron Duran splitting time at catcher.
Redshirt freshman Brett Neidlinger will take over the starting shortstop role in 2025. In three years on the Windsor High School varsity team, Neidlinger hit .354 including a remarkable .451 in his junior year.
Along with a strong bat, Neidlinger brings elite defense at shortstop.
“The guy’s probably the best defensive shortstop I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” Francois said.
After a strong performance in a scrimmage against Sacramento City on Jan. 17, Francois is very optimistic about the upcoming season.
“It’s very encouraging when you get 11 runs on 13 hits and we get a four-hit shutout,” he said. “I’d like to see that every game, but it’s the Big 8 conference. It’s arguably the best conference in the nation.”
The Bear Cubs will begin preseason play against Chabot at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24 at home. Conference play will begin Feb. 25 against Modesto.
Jerry Jaramillo • Jan 27, 2025 at 6:00 pm
Great article great reporting