LA JOLLA, Calif.—UC San Diego baseball head coach Eric Newman has announced the addition of eight newcomers that make up the 2026 signing class, joining the Tritons in La Jolla next fall.
 
The Tritons will welcome Caden Atkinson (Westlake Village, Calif.), Shoei Darvish (San Diego, Calif.), Caden Dockan (San Diego, Calif.), Owen Glick (San Diego, Calif.), Kelle Leuck (San Diego, Calif.), Adam Plascencia (Fresno, Calif.), Tyler Starling (Agoura Hills, Calif.) and Jonathan Tena (Fontana, Calif.). 
 
"With this group, we believe we've added players who can contribute early and grow with us," said Newman. "They bring athleticism, a strong work ethic and the kind of competitiveness that fits the Triton DNA. We're excited to welcome them to La Jolla and begin the next chapter together."
 
The 2026 signing class includes four two-way players, two pitchers, one infielder and one catcher. All eight signees join the Tritons from California, with four scholar-athletes prepping locally in the San Diego area.
 
MEET THE TRITONS

CADEN ATKINSON
» RHP/OF | R/R
» Westlake Village, Calif.
» Westlake High School
» Sandlot Baseball Club and SoCal Giants
» Ranked No. 106 best RHP in California by Perfect Game…All-League Co-Pitcher of the Year and All-Ventura County Second Team as an outfielder in 2025.
 
From Coach Newman: "Caden is a right-handed pitcher with excellent command and a sharp breaking ball. He throws strikes consistently, competes every pitch and has the kind of skill set that can make an immediate impact on our staff."
 

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SHOEI DARVISH
» RHP | R/R
» San Diego, Calif.
» Cathedral Catholic High School
» San Diego Padres Scout Team
» Ranked No. 26 best RHP in California by Perfect Game
 
From Coach Newman: "Shoei competes with the kind of edge and focus you expect from someone with big-league pedigree. His fastball, secondary pitches and baseball IQ give him tremendous upside, and we're excited to see him grow within our program."
 

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CADEN DOCKAN
» RHP | R/R
» San Diego, Calif.
» Rancho Bernardo High School
» CBA Baseball
» Ranked No. 70 best RHP in California by Perfect Game…All-League First Team as a sophomore and All-League Second Team as a junior in 2025.
 
From Coach Newman: "What stood out about Caden from the start was his poise. He handles big moments with maturity, pounds the strike zone and competes pitch-to-pitch. Those traits translate at any level."
 

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OWEN GLICK
» C | L/R
» San Diego, Calif.
» Rancho Bernardo High School
» CBA Baseball
» Ranked No. 10 best catcher in California by Perfect Game…All-League Second Team as a junior in 2025.
 
From Coach Newman: "Owen competes with an edge and brings a presence both behind the plate and in the batter's box. He's a left-handed bat we believe can anchor the middle of a lineup and he plays the catcher position with toughness and poise."
 

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KELLE LEUCK
» RHP/1B | R/R
» San Diego, Calif.
» Mt. Carmel High School
» CBA Baseball
» Ranked No. 6 best first baseman in California by Perfect Game…Helped his team win the Division 2 San Diego CIF title in 2025…All-League First Team as a sophomore and All-League Second Team as a junior in 2025.
 
From Coach Newman: "Kelle brings a level of athleticism and versatility that immediately raises the ceiling of our program. He competes on the mound and in the batter's box, plays with confidence and has the kind of motor every coach loves."
 

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ADAM PLASCENCIA
» OF/LHP | L/L
» Fresno, Calif.
» Buchanan High School
» CBA Baseball
» Ranked No. 48 best outfielder in California by Perfect Game…All-League First Team and All-State First Team as a sophomore…All-League Second Team and All-State Second Team as a junior in 2025.
 
From Coach Newman: "Adam is a talented, hard-working player who brings energy and versatility to the program. He competes at a high level in every game and has the type of skill set that can make an immediate impact for us."
 

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TYLER STARLING
» LHP/OF | L/L
» Agoura Hills, Calif.
» Agoura High School
» SoCal Giants
» Ranked No. 37 best outfielder in California by Perfect Game
 
From Coach Newman: "What stands out about Tyler is his rare combination of athleticism and two-way ability. As a left-handed hitter and pitcher, he brings speed, power and poise that can change a game. We're excited to see him develop and contribute immediately."
 

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JONATHAN TENA
» INF | R/R
» Fontana, Calif.
» Aquinas High School
» Prime 
» Ranked No. 59 best shortstop in California by Perfect Game…All-League First Team and All-CIF Second Team as a junior in 2025.
 
From Coach Newman: "Jonathan is the type of infielder every coach wants. He makes hard contact at the plate and plays with a strong, accurate arm in the field. His combination of offensive and defensive skills gives us a player who can impact the game in multiple ways."
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.