Cat Benitez brings a gritty, game-ready glove to UCSB’s catching room
In the 2026 season, UC Santa Barbara catcher Cat Benitez appeared in 27 games and made seven starts, giving the Gauchos a young backstop with real situational value and upside. She also drew early praise from coach Jo Evans as a freshman “doing a pretty good job,” and her high school resume includes two CIF Division 1 titles, which hints at a player comfortable in winning environments. She looks less like a loud stat-stuffer and more like a steady fit: competitive, experienced in big games, and worth caring about if your team needs toughness behind the plate.
