Excite Stadium isn’t exactly Fenway Park. It’s got that gritty, classic California Municipal feel where the smell of grilled hot dogs mixes with the occasional drift of South Bay exhaust, but for anyone following San Jose State baseball, that’s exactly where the magic happens. Honestly, for years, the Spartans were sort of the "other" team in the Mountain West. People talked about San Diego State or UNLV, while SJSU just kind of existed in the periphery of the conversation.
That’s changed.
The program has undergone a massive shift under head coach Brad Sanfilippo. We aren't just talking about a lucky winning streak here or there; we are talking about a fundamental culture change that took a team from the bottom of the standings to hoisting a Mountain West Championship trophy in 2023. It was their first one ever. Think about that. Decades of history, and it finally clicked. If you're looking for a blue-blood program with a billion-dollar NIL collective, you’re in the wrong place. But if you want to see how a mid-major program actually builds something sustainable through player development and local recruiting, you have to look at what’s happening at Washington and Alma.
The Sanfilippo Era and the 2023 Breakthrough
When Brad Sanfilippo took over—initially as an interim back in 2018—the vibes were, well, tough. The Spartans were coming off years of sub-.500 finishes. Sanfilippo, a guy with deep roots in the Bay Area (he coached at Los Gatos High and was an assistant at Cal), didn't try to reinvent the wheel overnight. He just focused on getting "old." In college baseball, "getting old" is the secret sauce. You want juniors and seniors who have seen 95-mph fastballs for three years.
The 2023 season was the payoff.
That year, the Spartans went 31-27. That might not sound like a "powerhouse" record to a casual fan, but in the context of SJSU history, it was massive. They rolled into the Mountain West Tournament as the top seed and took down Air Force to punch a ticket to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2002. Imagine the gap. Twenty-one years of waiting. They ended up in the Stanford Regional, and while they didn't make it to Omaha, they proved they belonged on the same turf as the giants.
The Identity of a Spartan Ballplayer
What does a San Jose State baseball player look like? Usually, it's a guy who was maybe a bit overlooked by the Pac-12 (now mostly defunct) or the big West Coast Conference schools.
Take Hunter Dorraugh, for example.
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Dorraugh became the program's all-time home run king, surpassing names that had stood for decades. He’s the quintessential SJSU story: power, grit, and the ability to perform when the lights are brightest. Then you have guys like Dalton Bowling. These aren't just "stat stuffers"; they are the foundational pieces of a lineup that started making opposing pitchers in the Mountain West very, very uncomfortable.
The recruiting strategy is pretty clear:
- Scour the Santa Clara Valley and the East Bay for tough kids.
- Hit the transfer portal for pitchers who need a fresh start or more innings.
- Focus on defensive versatility because Excite Stadium can be a tricky place to play when the wind starts swirling.
It's a blue-collar approach. You won't see the flashiest facilities in the country here. You’ll see a group of guys who understand that in San Jose, nobody is going to give you anything. You have to take it.
The Reality of the Mountain West Landscape
Let’s be real for a second. The Mountain West isn't the SEC. It’s a league where travel is brutal, the altitudes vary wildly—playing in Colorado Springs is a completely different sport than playing at sea level in San Jose—and the budgets are tight.
San Jose State baseball has to navigate these waters with a fraction of the resources that schools like Texas or LSU enjoy.
This creates a unique chip on the shoulder. When the Spartans travel to play a non-conference mid-week game against a school like Stanford or Cal, they play like they have everything to prove. That "Silicon Valley's Team" moniker isn't just a marketing slogan; it’s an attempt to reclaim the identity of a city that often overlooks its own local university in favor of the professional teams up the road in San Francisco or down the street at Levi’s Stadium.
Dealing with the Portal and NIL
It would be naive to talk about modern college baseball without mentioning the transfer portal. It's a double-edged sword for a program like SJSU. On one hand, they can find gems—players who were buried on the depth chart at bigger schools. On the other hand, if a Spartan has a breakout sophomore year, the "big fish" come circling with NIL deals that SJSU simply cannot match right now.
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Sanfilippo and his staff have to sell something else: playing time and development. If you come to San Jose, you’re going to play. You’re going to get coached up. You’re going to get a chance to be "the guy." For a lot of ballplayers, that’s worth more than a small NIL check and a seat on the bench elsewhere.
Pitching and Defense: The Spartan Spine
While the home runs get the highlights, the 2023 and 2024 seasons showed a renewed focus on the mound. In the past, SJSU struggled to find a true Friday night ace. They’ve moved toward a "pitching by committee" or "matchup-based" strategy more often than not, which requires a high level of scouting and trust between the dugout and the mound.
The defense has stayed remarkably steady. In San Jose, the ball jumps, but the infield remains a proving ground. You have to be able to pick it. If you can't play defense, you won't last in Sanfilippo’s lineup. Period.
Why the Local Community is Finally Waking Up
For a long time, San Jose State baseball games were attended by parents, a few die-hard alums, and maybe some students looking for an excuse to be outside. But the winning has changed the atmosphere. There's a different energy at Excite Stadium now.
It helps that the school is investing—slowly but surely—in the "Spartan Athletics Center" and other facilities that benefit all athletes. While the baseball team doesn't play in the new center, the overall rising tide of SJSU athletics (especially the recent success of the football team) has created a "Spartan Pride" that didn't exist ten years ago.
You’re starting to see more local youth teams show up in their jerseys. You’re seeing more "Spartan Up" hats in the grocery stores. It’s a slow build, but it’s happening.
Looking Ahead: Can They Stay at the Top?
The biggest question for San Jose State baseball is whether 2023 was a fluke or a blueprint. 2024 was a year of transition and dealing with the "target on your back" for the first time. It’s a lot harder to be the hunted than the hunter.
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The Mountain West is shifting. New rivalries are forming, and the competition is getting tighter. Air Force is always disciplined. Fresno State is a perennial powerhouse with a massive fan base. UNLV has the resources. For SJSU to stay relevant, they have to keep hitting on their recruits and hope their core players stay healthy.
One thing is certain: nobody is circling the Spartans on the calendar as an "easy win" anymore. That respect was earned in the dirt and the heat of the 2023 postseason.
What You Should Actually Do
If you actually care about college baseball or just want to support local sports, here is the move.
First, stop just checking the scores on an app. Go to a game at Excite Stadium. It’s one of the few places left where you can get incredibly close to the action for a price that won't ruin your month. You can hear the chatter in the dugout, the pop of the catcher's mitt, and the genuine emotion of the players. It’s pure.
Second, watch the mid-week games. Those games against the Pac-12 (or what's left of the regional rivalries) are where you see the true grit of this program.
Finally, keep an eye on the freshman class. The coaching staff has been aggressive in keeping local talent in the 408. When you see a kid from a local high school like Bellarmine or Valley Christian suiting up for the Spartans, that’s the future of the program.
San Jose State baseball has moved past the era of just "showing up." They are building a legacy, one inning at a time, in the heart of the South Bay. If you haven't been paying attention, now is the time to start.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Collectors
- Check the Schedule Early: The Mountain West schedule is usually released in late fall. Mark the home series against Fresno State—it’s always the most intense.
- Support the NIL Collective: If you're an alum, look into the "One Spartan Nation" collective. This is how the program keeps its best players from transferring to bigger schools.
- Follow the Stats: Keep tabs on the "Mountain West Network" for free live streams of the games. It’s one of the better-produced mid-major networks out there.
- Go Local: Before the game, grab food at one of the spots on Spartan Way or nearby. The community around the stadium is part of the experience.
The era of overlooking the Spartans is officially over. Whether they are winning a conference title or grinding through a tough road trip in Reno, this team represents the scrappy, innovative spirit of San Jose perfectly.