Ryan Pineda - Cal State University, Northridge

Justin Roswell: Where Are They Now?

Ryan Pineda, former Baseball Factory standout and current freshman at Cal State Northridge, was recently named the Big West Conference Freshman Player of the Year. Pineda led Big West freshmen with 17 doubles, six home runs, and 32 RBI in 2008 and capped the season with a walk-off home run in the final game of the year.

Pineda participated in a National Tryout that we held in Las Vegas, Nevada back in February 2006. His performance at that event merited an invitation to attend the inaugural 2007 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament, powered by Baseball Factory.

Pineda is the first Matador to claim the honor since Northridge joined the Big West in 2001. A member of the biggest freshman class in the nation in 2008, Pineda was a touted shortstop from Bonanza High School of Las Vegas. After working out at second base through the fall, he eventually found his way to third early in the regular season and made his first start at that position in the tenth game of the year.

He would go on to make 44 starts at third base, seven more at second, and one at designated hitter. He was the Matadors most oft-used freshman and was one start shy of Richard Cates and John Parham (former Baseball Factory Participant), who led the team with 53 starts.

Pineda's season peaked with a 5-for-5 performance against the University of the Pacific; a day in which he smacked homers in his first two at bats and finished with three RBI and three runs scored. The production spilled over into the following day when he reached base in his first four plate appearances. He was on base a staggering nine consecutive times between the two games.

He was also responsible for arguably the most exciting moment of the 2008 season. Leading off the bottom of the ninth with his team tied 5-5 with UC Davis, Pineda sent the first pitch he saw deep into the trees beyond the left field wall for a walk-off home run.

Pineda leads a group of six Matadors on the All-Conference list. Pineda, TS Reed – 2B, John Parham – Util, and Phil Hann – SP, were each tabbed honorable mention while Richard Cates – Util and Edwin Quirarte – RP, were named to the Big West Second Team.

Another freshman infielder, TS Reed came out of nowhere to lead the Matadors and all Big West freshmen with 16 stolen bases. The second baseman also posted a .310 batting average for the year. Reed attended the 2006 Team One West Showcase and later the 2007 Under Armour Pre-Season All-America Tournament, powered by Baseball Factory.

Parham checked in with a .348 batting average that was second best on the team, and his six home runs were knotted for first on the squad.

We would like to acknowledge Ryan and his Matador teammates on their tremendous accomplishments as student-athletes.

Check out the Northridge roster and team stats.


Justin Roswell joined the Baseball Factory in 2001 serving in the scouting, event coordination, and player development departments. In 2007 he became the Senior Director for Team One Baseball, the showcase division of Baseball Factory. As Senior Director, he leads the player identification process for all Team One Regional Showcases. Justin also runs the Under Armour Tournament Division. Justin graduated from California State University - Fullerton, where he received his degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis on management.