Bears looking to be title contenders in the Pacific League and the CIF Southern Section 

The John Burroughs Bears baseball team enters this season with high optimism under head coach Matt Magallon who is entering his sixth season as the program’s head coach. Last season Burroughs had a record of 19-7 overall and 11-3 in Pacific League play with an appearance in the CIF Southern Section Playoffs. Unfortunately, they lost to Ontario Christian 8-0 as the Bears got no-hit in that contest. The Bears are looking to make a lot of noise in the Pacific League again in 2025. 

The Coaching staff under Magallon will feature, Joe Rodriguez (Head Junior Varsity Coach), Gio Macias (Head Frosh Coach) along with assistants Frank Taormina (Varsity Assistant Coach), Mitch Kellogg (Varsity Assistant Coach), Kam Diaz (Varsity Pitching Coach), Ian Nord (Varsity Assistant Coach), Ryan Daniels (JV Assistant Coach), Revin Diego (JV Assistant Coach), and Moises Marroquin (Frosh Assistant Coach). 

The players to watch this season will feature four returning all-Pacific League players: senior pitcher Kenny Montgomery (Pacific League’s Honorable Mention), junior All-Pacific League First Team shortstop Logan Drossin, sophomore All-Pacific League Second Team first baseman Devin Whittekiend and sophomore All-Pacific League first team third baseman in Elliot Ross. 

Other players of note are Kyle (senior pitcher and catcher) and Jack Smith (junior catcher) along with senior utility player Andrew Cosio, junior utility player Zack Guevara, and junior pitchers Jack Guest (closing pitcher) and Ryan Walsh. 

“I’m very excited about the 2025 season, we are a young team that features a lot of sophomores and juniors which includes six seniors,” said Matt Magallon. Magallon mentioned that last year’s opening-round loss to Ontario Christian was tough and said that Luke Ballantyne is a Division 1 pitcher when asked about the no-hitter from a season ago. 

The key date to be on the lookout for is when Burroughs will begin the 2025 season on Friday, February 21st, against Arroyo which will be their season home opener with the first pitch slated for 6:00 p.m. 

The Bears will begin Pacific League play with a two-game series with the Glendale Nitros on Tuesday, March 4th, and Friday, March 7th with game times for the respective games set for 3:00 p.m. o and then 6:30 p.m. The Bears will have two senior night games, one of which will come against the Hoover Tornadoes on Friday, March 14th at 6:00 p.m. to pay tribute to the graduating class of 2025. 

A second senior recognition game will take place on Tuesday, April 29th against cross-town rival Burbank to honor their final regular season home game in the first game of the home-and-home series. Stay tuned for continuing coverage of John Burroughs High Baseball all season long.