The Arizona Wildcats baseball team is the intercollegiate men's baseball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, United States. They compete in the Big 12 Conference (Big 12) of NCAA Division I.
Arizona has won four college baseball national championships (1976, 1980, 1986 and 2012), the first three under Jerry Kindall and the most recent under Andy Lopez. The team has appeared in the College World Series Championship Game or Series on four other occasions (1956, 1959, 1963, and 2016). The Wildcats have appeared in 44 NCAA baseball tournaments in their rich history. Arizona ranks ninth in all-time wins and eight in all-time win percentage, with an all-time record of 3,068–1,674–22 (.646) as of the 2025 season. Arizona fielded its first team in 1905.
Contents
Venues
Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet Stadium
The former home of Arizona baseball is Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet Stadium. The park is located on the campus of the University of Arizona, adjacent to the McKale Center, home of the UA athletics department. Arizona played its games at the Kindall Field from prior to the 1967 season through the end of the 2011 season. Modernization of the facility was completed for the 1975 season. Originally called Wildcat Field, the park was officially dedicated Frank Sancet Field on April 19, 1986, in honor of Arizona's longtime head coach. Sancet, who coached from 1950 to 1972, posted an 831–283–8 (.744) mark at the helm of the Cats.
Relocation to Hi Corbett Field (2011-present)
In an effort to have the Wildcat baseball program compete in the best possible facilities, in August 2011, the UA signed an agreement with the city of Tucson for Arizona baseball to play its home games at city-owned Hi Corbett Field, located about three miles southeast of campus, for the 2012 season (beginning with a five-year lease with an option to renew for an additional five years). The UA spent about $350,000 to make several upgrades to the former spring training facility (used as such by the Cleveland Indians and the Colorado Rockies), where the Wildcats previously played selected games in the 1960s and '70s. Through the first three-game series of the 2012 season against North Dakota State, the attendance at the stadium was a total of 8,870, which was nearly 1/4th of the total home attendance for the Wildcats' previous season at Sancet Stadium.
In 2012, the Wildcats posted a 38–17 regular season record (20–10 in Pac-12 conference play), capturing a share of the Pac-12 baseball championship, the school's first league title since 1992. As a result, Hi Corbett Field hosted both an NCAA Regional and Super Regional tournament, and Arizona won both of those to advance to the 2012 College World Series (the program's first postseason appearance in Omaha since 2004) where the team won its fourth national championship. In the 2012 season, the team brought in almost $350,000 in ticket revenue (not including revenue for tickets sold during the NCAA Regional or Super Regional); this is compared to the 2011 season, when Arizona baseball brought in $69,000 worth of ticket revenue in its final season at Sancet Stadium. The relocation of the Wildcat baseball program to Hi Corbett Field has been noted as a major factor in the team's successful 2012 season.
In March 2017, the university signed a 25-year lease on Hi Corbett Field, taking over the day-to-day management of the baseball stadium from the City of Tucson.
Head coaches
Modern Era (1950-current). Records are through the 2025 season
Current coaching staff
Head coach: Chip Hale
Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator: Trip Couch
Assistant coach (Pitching): Sean Kenny
Assistant coach (Hitting/Outfield): Jack Meggs
Assistant coach(Catching/Assistant Hitting):Daniel Molinari
Assistant coach (Director of Player Development/Recruitng): Garen Caulfield
Assistant coach: Sean Winston
Director of Baseball Operations: Ella Wolters
Records and results
Year-by-year results
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, C = Conference
Polls
Arizona been ranked in the Baseball America Division I Final Poll 33 times.
Top-10 finishes are colored ██
All-time record vs. Big 12 teams
†Colorado & Iowa State no longer have baseball programs
Arizona State
Arizona's main rival is Arizona State. The Wildcats lead the Sun Devils in all time baseball series 267–237–1 as of April 14th, 2026 and both teams have had several players drafted into MLB. In recent years, Arizona has had an edge over Arizona State in college baseball success. In 2010 ASU won the Pac-10 and also advanced to the College World Series, capping the end of a dominating run of 4 straight Pac-10 conference championships and 3 CWS appearances in 4 years (missed CWS in 2008). Later, the NCAA would vacate the 2007 Pac-10 Championship and 2007 CWS appearance from ASU's record.
Since then Arizona has won the CWS (2012), was the CWS runner-up (2016) and won two Pac-12 Championships (2021 & 2024). In contrast to Arizona's recent success, ASU has not won the Pac-10/12 Conference since 2010, has not been the CWS runner up since 1988 and has not won an NCAA Championship since 1981. Arizona has won 2 NCAA championships since 1981. While ASU still has a more robust historical record (5x NCAA Champs, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1981 and 21x CWS appearances), Arizona has narrowed that gap in the last 20 years.
Arizona in the NCAA Tournament
Arizona has appeared in the NCAA tournament a total 44 times (as of 2026), 6th most in NCAA history. The Wildcats have hosted regionals 13 times(as of 2026).
The NCAA Division I baseball tournament started in 1947.
The format of the tournament has changed through the years.
Arizona has made eighteen appearances in the College World Series, compiling a 43–32 record, advancing to the title game on eight occasions and winning the College World Series four times, which is tied for 5th most all-time.
Championships
National Championship appearances
Arizona has appeared in the College World Series National Championship game eight times in 1956, 1959, 1963, 1976, 1980, 1986, 2012 and 2016.
Awards
Conference awards
Pac−10/12 Player of the Year – Terry Francona (1980), Chip Hale (1987), Scott Erickson (1989), Alan Zinter (1989), Trevor Crowe (2005), Alex Mejia (2012), Scott Kingery (2015)
Pac−10/12 Pitcher of the Year – Preston Guilmet (2007)
Pac−10/12 Defensive Player of the Year – Alex Mejia (2012), Nik McClaughry (2023)
Pac−10/12 Freshman of the Year – Austin Wells (2019), Daniel Susac (2021)
Pac−10/12 Coach of the Year – Jerry Kindall (1980, 1989, 1992), Andy Lopez (2012), Jay Johnson (2021), Chip Hale (2024)
Individual honors
Notable alumni
Brian Anderson – World Series Champion (2005)
Steven Ballard – former Chancellor at East Carolina University
Jett Bandy – catcher, Milwaukee Brewers
Shelley Duncan – manager of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees)
Scott Erickson – All-Star selection (1991), World Series champion (1991).
Terry Francona – current manager of the Cincinnati Reds, former Manager of the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Guardians – 2x World Series champion (2004, 2007)
Kevin Ginkel – Member of the 2023 Arizona Diamondbacks World Series team.
Dick Griesser – member of the United States national baseball team at the 1956 Summer Olympics
Chip Hale – former manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks; named Wildcats head coach in July 2021
Ron Hassey – World Series Champion (1989), only catcher to catch two perfect games.
Rich Hinton
Trevor Hoffman – 2nd all-time Major League saves holder with 601 total saves, 7x All-Star (1998–2000, 2002, 2006–2007, 2009), Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, 2017.
Jack Howell
Nick Hundley – catcher of the San Francisco Giants
Jerry Kindall – member of the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame inductees
One Arizona player and two coaches have been inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
Retired jerseys
Student-Athlete jerseys are retired but not individual player numbers.
Rivalries
Arizona State
Arizona's main rival is Arizona State. Although they are famously known for their rivalry in football and basketball as well as softball, both schools have had a rich baseball tradition in their history. The Wildcats lead the Sun Devils in all time baseball series 267–237–1 as of April 14th, 2026 and both teams have had several players drafted into MLB.
In recent years, Arizona has had an edge over Arizona State in college baseball success. In 2010 ASU won the Pac-10 and also advanced to the College World Series, capping the end of a dominating run of 4 straight Pac-10 conference championships and 3 CWS appearances in 4 years (missed CWS in 2008). Later, the NCAA would vacate the 2007 Pac-10 Championship and 2007 CWS appearance from ASU's record.
Since then Arizona has won the CWS (2012), was the CWS runner-up (2016) and won two Pac-12 Championships (2021 & 2024). In contrast to Arizona's recent success, ASU has not won the Pac-10/12 Conference since 2010, has not been the CWS runner up since 1988 and has not won an NCAA Championship since 1981. Arizona has won 2 NCAA championships since 1981. While ASU still has a more robust historical record (5x NCAA Champs, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1981 and 21x CWS appearances), Arizona has narrowed that gap in the last 20 years.