Xavier Esquer brings middle-of-the-order pop and grit to UCSB’s infield
In the 2025 season, Xavier Esquer started all 54 games for UC Santa Barbara, hit .281 with 15 doubles, 8 homers, 38 RBIs, and a team-high 50 runs, while also drawing 18 walks and getting plunked 23 times — a very real “you can’t miss him” trait. He pairs legitimate pull-side power with on-base skills and toughness, plus he’s already shown big-moment juice with a grand slam and multiple clutch swings. If you want an infielder who plays with edge, stays in the lineup, and adds offense from the dirt, Esquer checks a lot of boxes.
