California State University - Sacramento Men's Baseball

Follow the Hornets on Twitter @SacStBaseball and Instagram @sacstbaseball Reggie Christiansen joined the Sacramento State coaching staff as an assistant coach prior to the 2009 season under then-head coach John Smith. Christiansen was named the program's head coach in 2011 and, now, enters his 16th season at the helm for the Hornets in 2026, having led his teams to 12 seasons of 30-or-more victories, three NCAA Regional berths, 12 WAC postseason appearances, three conference tournament titles, three league regular season crowns, and more. Prior to Sacramento State, Christiansen was the head coach at South Dakota State for four years (2005-08). He served as the team’s hitting instructor, recruiting coordinator and third base coach. He was also an assistant coach at Kansas (2003-04) while he made his debut as a head coach with his alma mater, Menlo College, in 2002. Christiansen graduated from Menlo in 1998 with a degree in business administration and received his master’s degree from Kansas in 2004 in health, sport and exercise science. A native of Ferndale, Calif., Christiansen and his wife Amber have two sons, Ryan and Reese, and a daughter, Ava. Sacramento State Highlights: 2011-2025 (15 seasons) Three-time WAC Coach of the Year (2012, 2014, 2025) Three-time WAC Tournament Champion (2014, 2017, 2019) Three-time WAC Regular Season Champion (2012, 2014, 2025) Two 40-win seasons (2014, 2019) Named the bench coach for the 2023 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team 2012 and 2014 MLB Northern California Scouts' Div. I Coach of the Year Led program to first NCAA Division I Regionals appearance in 2014  Has mentored three All-Americans, four All-West Region selections, nine Freshman All-Americans, five WAC Freshmen of the Year, two WAC Players of the Year, and a WAC Pitcher of the Year Student-athletes have won 29 All-WAC first team awards and 26 second team honors Twenty-five players have been named to the WAC All-Tournament Team Student-Athletes have been named to the WAC All-Academic Team 133 times (as of 2025) Only Division I program in California with 30+ wins in 12 consecutive seasons from 2012-2023 440 total wins since 2012 are the fifth-most among California Division I programs entering the 2025 season 28 players have been selected in the MLB Draft since taking over as head coach in 2011, while four more have signed free agent deals Five former players have reached the Major Leagues: Rhys Hoskins, Sam Long, James Outman, Nathan Lukes, and Travis Adams 2025 Season: 32-26 (15-9) • Western Athletic Conference regular season co-champions - first since 2014 • Qualified for the WAC postseason tournament for the 12th time • Pitcher Kade Brown was named a third-team All-American and finalist for the Stopper of the Year Award by the NCBWA, as well as a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy • Freshman infielder Michael Perazzo was named to the watch list for the Brooks Wallace Award • Christiansen was named the WAC Coach of the Year, Evan Gibbons became the first Hornet to be named WAC Pitcher of the Year, and five players earned All-WAC honors -- including four on the first team • 13 players were named to the WAC All-Academic Team • Pitcher Carson Latimer (12th round, 354th, Cincinnati), infielder JP Smith (17th round, 509th, Minnesota), and pitcher Kade Brown (20th round, 590th, Athletics) were selected in the 2025 MLB First-Year Player Draft • The 32 wins overall and 15 conference victories were the most since 2022 • Finished 9-2-3 in weekend series, including six straight series wins 2024 Season: 26-31 (14-16) • Qualified for the WAC postseason tournament for the 11th time • Pitcher Kade Brown was named a second-team Freshman All-American by D1Baseball • Infielders Gunner Gouldsmith and JP Smith were named to the All-WAC second team, while outfielder Tyler White was named to the league's inaugural All-Defense Team • Gouldsmith was taken in the 19th round (556th overall) of the MLB First-Year Player Draft by Oakland • A program-best 16 student-athletes were named to the WAC All-Academic Team 2023 Season: 30-26 (14-16) • Won his 500th career game on April 30 at New Mexico State • Won his 400th game at Sacramento State in the regular season finale against Utah Tech • Upset then-No. 9 ranked Stanford on the road • Had three players named to the All-WAC teams (Martin Vincelli-Simard, JP Smith, and Wehiwa Aloy) and the league’s Freshman of the Year (Aloy) • Had two players named Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-Americans (Aloy and Smith) • Set a school record with 92 home runs, breaking the previous mark of 83 in 1998 • The .507 slugging percentage was the second highest in a single-season in school history 2022 Season: 32-26 (17-13 WAC) • Clinched a berth in the postseason tournament for the 10th consecutive season — the longest active streak of any current WAC member -- clinching the No. 2 seed out of the Western Division • Opened the season with a 7-0 record – the program’s best in its Division I history and the best according to available records dating back to 1950 • Swept then-No. 6 Long Beach State to enter the national polls for the second time in the program’s Division I history • Eli Saul selected in the 13th round of the MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks • The only program in the nation to not lose a series opener (14-0 record) • Ranked second in the NCAA with 43 sacrifice flies, while Steven Moretto led the nation with 12 of his own • Picked up his 359th win at Sacramento State on April 26, moving him past Cal Boyes for the second-most in school history • Won his 450th career game on Feb. 25 at Long Beach State 2021 Season: 35-22 (22-14 WAC) • Advanced to ninth straight postseason tournament, clinching #2 seed • Four players named to WAC all-conference teams • Junior Scott Randall named ABCA/Rawlings All-West Region, Collegiate Baseball All-American • Team earned Sacramento State's Male Academic Team of the Year (Highest GPA) • Two players selected in the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft 2020 Season: 9-7 (0-0 WAC) • Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic • Finished with a 9-7 overall record • Hornets led the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.76) and walks per nine innings (1.32), while ranking third in the NCAA in WHIP (0.98) 2019 Season: 40-25 (18-9 WAC) • Won its third WAC Tournament in last six seasons • Made its third NCAA Regional appearance in last six seasons • Eliminated No. 19 UC Santa Barbara from regionals • Won 40 games for the second time (sixth in program history) • Agreed to a new contract with Sacramento State, keeping him with the Hornets through the 2026 season • Four players named to the All-WAC teams • Hornets pitchers set new program record with 537 strikeouts • Three players selected in the 2019 MLB June Amateur Draft 2018 Season: 35-25 (17-7 WAC) • Advanced to their sixth straight postseason tournament, clinching #2 seed • Signed a seven-year contract extension, keeping him in Sacramento through the 2024 season • Seven players named to WAC all-conference teams, most since 2014 • Senior Austin Root named ABCA/Rawlings All-West Region Selection • Freshman Scott Randall named Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American • Hornets pitchers set program record with 456 strikeouts • Led the WAC in ERA, shutouts, K:BB, WHIP, BB/9 • Three players selected in the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft 2017 Season: 32-29 (12-12 WAC) • Won their second WAC Tournament in four seasons after clinching No. 3 seed • Made second NCAA Regional appearance in program history • Four players named to WAC all-conference teams • Freshman Parker Brahms named Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American and WAC Freshman of the Year • Senior Justin Dillon threw the first no-hitter in Hornets' Division I history on Feb. 28 • Led the WAC in ERA, WHIP, opposing batting average, strikeout-to-walk ratio, and hits per nine innings • One player selected in the 2017 MLB June Amateur Draft 2016 Season: 30-28 (16-11 WAC) • Driving force behind the addition of lights to John Smith Field in May • Won two-of-three games at Auburn to start season, the third of four season-opening series wins or splits against Power 5 programs • Won at No. 5 LSU, the team's second win over a top-five team in three seasons • Three players named to WAC all-conference teams • Three players selected in the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft 2015 Season: 33-27 (16-11 WAC) • Advanced to third straight postseason tournament, clinching the No. 4 seed • Pitching staff finished third in all of NCAA Division I with 1.09 WHIP and 2.07 walks per nine innings • Staff ranked 12th nationally with 7.7 hits per nine innings and set single-season school records for ERA (2.97) and fewest walks (124) • Four players named to WAC all-conference teams • Four players selected in the 2015 MLB June Amateur Draft 2014 Season: 40-24 (21-6 WAC) • Won 40 games for just the fifth time in program history and first since 1991 • Won first WAC Tournament championship and advanced to the first NCAA Regional in program history • Eliminated No. 18 Arizona State in postseason play • Team's 21 conference wins ranked second in in program history • Named WAC Coach of the Year for the second time • Junior Rhys Hoskins named WAC Player of the Year and a third-team Louisville Slugger Collegiate Baseball All-American • Freshman Sam Long named WAC Freshman of the Year and a Louisville Slugger Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American • Seven players named to WAC all-conference teams • Two players drafted in 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft, including 5th round pick Rhys Hoskins • MLB Northern California Scouts' Div. I Coach of the Year 2013 Season: 34-25 (14-13 WAC) • First back-to-back 30-win seasons in over 20 years • Second consecutive postseason appearance • Chris Lewis named NCBWA Freshman All-American, Louisville Slugger Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American, and WAC Player of the Year • Sutter McLoughlin named NCBWA Freshman All-American and a Louisville Slugger Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American • Four players named to WAC all-conference teams • Three players drafted in the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft 2012 Season: 31-28 (11-7 WAC) • Won the WAC regular-season championship for the first time since joining the league (1993) • Reached 30+ wins for the first time since 2003 • Was one of two teams in the nation to go from last place in its conference in 2011 to first in 2012 (Cornell in the Ivy League) • Advanced to first ever WAC Tournament title game • Set school record with .979 fielding percentage (ranking 5th in the NCAA) • Andrew Ayers named WAC MVP • Rhys Hoskins named Freshman All-American, the first in program history • Six players named to WAC all-conference teams  • Two players selected in 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft • MLB Northern California Scouts' Div. I Coach of the Year 2011 Season: 19-39 (6-18 WAC) • Led Hornets to 19 wins, including six conference victories in his first season • Coached the team to a .969 fielding percentage, at the time the second best in program history • One player named to WAC all-conference teams HORNETS IN THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DRAFT UNDER REGGIE CHRISTIANSEN 2025 Carson Latimer (P) Cincinnati Reds 12th (354) JP Smith (IF) Minnesota Twins 17th (509) Kade Brown (P) Athletics 20th (590) 2024 Gunner Gouldsmith (IF) Oakland A's 19th (556) 2023 Noah Takacs (P) Pittsburgh Pirates FA Signee 2022 Eli Saul (P) Arizona Diamondbacks 13th (378) 2021 Travis Adams (P) Minnesota Twins 6th (189) Scott Randall (P) Arizona Diamondbacks 7th (198) 2020 Parker Brahms (P) Pittsburgh Pirates FA Signee 2019 Austin Roberts (P) Pittsburgh Pirates 8th (244) Tanner Dalton (P) Chicago Cubs 17th (522) Parker Brahms (P) Los Angeles Dodgers 27th (821) 2018 James Outman (OF) Los Angeles Dodgers 7th (224) Ian Dawkins (OF) Chicago White Sox 27th (798) Vinny Esposito (IF) Detroit Tigers 34th (1005) 2017 Justin Dillon (P) Toronto Blue Jays 10th (309) 2016 Tyler Beardsley (P) Minnesota Twins 16th (483) Sam Long (P) Tampa Bay Rays 18th (540) Gunner Pohlman (C) Miami Marlins 26th (773) 2015 Nathan Lukes (OF) Cleveland Indians 7th (214) Sutter McLoughlin (P) Philadelphia Phillies 22nd (654) Scotty Burcham (IF) Colorado Rockies 25th (737) Brennan Leitao (P) St. Louis Cardinals 26th (791) Ty Nichols (P) Tampa Bay Rays FA 2014 Rhys Hoskins (IF) Philadelphia Phillies 5th (142) Alex Palsha (P) New York Mets 27th (805) 2013 Justin Higley (OF) Oakland Athletics 13th (401) Tanner Mendonca (P) Minnesota Twins 17th (500) Andrew Ayers (IF) Kansas City Royals 30th (894) 2012 R.J. Davis (P) Tampa Bay Rays 20th (632) Derrick Chung (C/IF) Toronto Blue Jays 31st (955) 2011 Kirby Young (OF) Los Angeles Angels FA    

Former Hornet David Flores began his third stint with the program prior to the 2020 season and enters his 10th season on the coaching staff at his alma mater in 2026. In 2021, under Flores’ guidance, Sacramento State turned in one of its best offensive seasons in recent history. Sacramento State hit .283 and led the Western Athletic Conference with a .383 on-base percentage. The Hornets also led the league in RBIs (336) and doubles (113) while ranking second in home runs (52). The team’s .283 batting average was its best since 2012 (.298) and the 52 home runs, 113 doubles, and 336 RBIs were all the team’s most since the 2009 season (63, 116, and 355, respectively). Most recently before joining Sacramento State in the summer of 2019, Flores served as the hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners' Dominican Academy for two seasons in 2018 and 2019. Prior to that, he was the hitting coach for the team's affiliate in the Midwest League in 2017.  Flores's second stretch with Sacramento State came in 2015, when he served two seasons as the program's volunteer assistant and was responsible for coaching the infielders. Prior to that return to Sacramento State, Flores played four years for the Hornets and was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 18th round of the 2008 MLB draft. Flores played at Sacramento State from 2005-08 and still ranks highly in program history in a number of career records. He is the all-time program leader with 57 career doubles and is tied for second in program history with 128 career runs scored, third with 226 career hits, and eighth in career RBIs. He was a 2007 first team All-WAC selection and was second team All-WAC in 2006 and 2008. Flores played four seasons of professional baseball and reached the AA level in 2011. He totaled a .258 batting average with 47 home runs and 192 RBIs while playing for three pro teams before retiring in 2011.

Sacramento State baseball alum Grant Kukuk returns to the dugout where he shined as a pitcher for the Hornets, joining the coaching staff for his first season in 2026. “I’m excited to have Grant back in the green and gold,” Head Coach Reggie Christiansen said. “He bleeds Hornet Baseball and will do an outstanding job of developing our pitching staff as well as recruiting the next wave of great Hornet pitchers.” A two-year letter winner for Sacramento State from 2015-16, Kukuk (pronounced COO-kuk) is reunited with his former mentor following stops as an assistant at the College of Southern Idaho, Cal State East Bay, Western Athletic Conference rival Utah Valley, and local foe Pacific. “I’m incredibly honored and excited to be named the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Sacramento State — my alma mater and a place that means so much to my family and I,” Kukuk said. “This program helped shape me both on and off the field, and it’s a privilege to now have that opportunity to give back. “I’m especially grateful to Coach Reggie Christiansen, who’s been a mentor of mine throughout my career. I look forward to working alongside him and the rest of the staff as we continue to build on the rich history of winning, producing Major League players, and developing student-athletes here at Sacramento State.” Last season with the Tigers, three of his charges ranked among the top 10 in the West Coast Conference in fewest walks allowed and mentored a staff that had its collective ERA lowered by more than 1.5 runs from the end of 2024 to the end of 2025. At the end of the season, right-hander Jakob Guardado signed with the Los Angeles Angels — the third pitcher in his four years as a coach at the Division I level to go on to either sign with or be drafted by a Major League Baseball club. Prior to his arrival in Stockton, Kukuk guided the pitching staff at Utah Valley from 2022-24, helping the Wolverine staff set the school’s single-season record for strikeouts (480) in his second year while also lowering the team ERA by more than a run and reducing the team’s walks per 9 innings from 5.3 to 4.2. He saw improved the team’s strikeouts per nine rate from 6.3 to 8.8 and the staff’s strikeout to walk ratio from 1.29 to 2.06. During his time in Orem, right-hander Casey Anderson led the WAC in strikeouts as a junior and was drafted in the 11th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks while right-hander Mitch Mueller signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Twins following the 2024 campaign. Following a pair of seasons as an assistant coach at the College of Southern Idaho, Kukuk continued his coaching career in 2018 at Cal State East Bay, serving as the program’s pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. During his three seasons with the Pioneers, Kukuk helped deflate the Pitching Staff’s ERA from a near six down to a 4.44 ERA in 2020 which was the program’s lowest since 2015. He also helped Cal State East Bay get off to their best start in program history with a 10-2 record in 2020. While at CSI, he helped the Golden Eagles to a 50-win season in 2017, conference and regional championships, and a a trip to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colo., finishing third. His 2017 squad also excelled in the classroom as CSI boasted the second-highest grade point average of any junior college team in the country. Outside of the collegiate ranks, Kukuk has also served as an assistant coach during the summer for the Yakima Valley Pippins in the West Coast League and the Neptune Beach Pearl in the California Collegiate Summer League. A native of Reno, Nev., Kukuk appeared in 33 games as a starter and reliever for the Hornets, finishing with a 7-7 overall record and a 4.67 ERA while helping Sacramento State to a pair of WAC Tournament berths. After pitching 17 games (25.1 innings) as a reliever in 2015, Kukuk started 13 games as a senior in 2016, winning five games while pitching 82.2 innings and ranking No. 45 in the NCAA in 1.52 walks per nine innings. In two seasons as a student-athlete at the College of Southern Idaho, Kukuk was an All-Scenic West Conference second team selection during his time at CSI, including a 4-4 record with a 2.90 ERA and a save as a sophomore, striking out 49 against only six walks in 62 innings. He was a four-year letter winner at Reno HS, earning first-team all-state honors in 2012 and picking up a pair of All-North League first team selections. An All-Northern Nevada first-team pitcher in 2011, Kukuk also played in the outfield and was the Northern Nevada Offensive Player of the Year in 2012. Kukuk graduated from Sacramento State with a degree in communications in 2016 and earned his master’s degree in human resource development from Idaho State in 2018 while coaching at the College of Southern Idaho. Kukuk and his wife, Sam Duran-Kukuk, reside in Elk Grove, Calif., and have a son, Garrett. Sam is entering her second season as the head coach of the University of the Pacific softball program and was a four-year softball letter winner at UCLA from 2011-15, helping the Bruins to four NCAA regional appearances, a pair of super regional berths, and a trip to the College World Series as a senior.