2026 San Rafael Pacifics Season Recap
The San Rafael Pacifics put together another competitive season in 2026, battling through a demanding Pecos League schedule before advancing to the Pacific Division Finals. The Pacifics defeated the Bakersfield Train Robbers in the opening round of the playoffs before their season came to an end against the Martinez Sturgeon in the Pacific Division Finals.
The 2026 Pacifics featured a roster that combined returning professional experience with a large group of rookies. Veteran outfielder John Bicos, a Hawaii-Hilo product, returned to the Pacifics along with veteran outfielder Aki Buckson. The roster also included veteran infielder Kyle Guerra and veteran pitchers Jake Dent, Jared Greer, Kyle Deering and Tyler Condie.
San Rafael also brought in a substantial group of first-year players. Pitchers Chase Barsotti, David Howard, Jake Tirk, James Courshon, Nick Pazos, Riley Houghtby and Syler Pillsbury were among the rookies on the pitching staff. Catchers Gino Hutchinson, Jacob Savoy and Payton Rios gave the club a completely rookie catching group.
The infield included Alexander Merchant, Calan Zemaitis, Fred Buckson and Jorge Lopez along with Guerra, while the outfield featured Bicos, Aki Buckson, Jaxson Bates, Keith Whitaker and Miles Bergman.
A Season Filled With Big Offensive Games
The Pacifics' schedule featured plenty of offense. San Rafael scored in double figures repeatedly during the summer, including games in which the club put up 14, 18 and 16 runs. The Pacifics also played through several high-scoring games in June and July as the race for the Pacific Division playoffs developed.
The schedule was demanding, with stretches of games at Albert Park followed by road trips and very few extended breaks. San Rafael played from late May through the end of July before moving directly into postseason baseball.
One of the club's most important late-season results came on July 26, when San Rafael scored 16 runs in a 16-8 victory. The Pacifics followed that by scoring 18 runs on July 27 and another 10 runs on July 28, giving the team considerable offensive momentum heading toward the postseason.
Pacifics Sweep Bakersfield in First Round
San Rafael carried that momentum into the opening round of the Pacific Division playoffs against the Bakersfield Train Robbers.
The Pacifics dominated Game 1, defeating Bakersfield 18-3. It was exactly the type of offensive performance San Rafael had demonstrated it was capable of producing throughout the regular season.
View Game 1 Box Score »
San Rafael finished the series the following night. The Pacifics defeated Bakersfield 10-5 to complete the two-game sweep and advance to the Pacific Division Finals.
View Game 2 Box Score »
The two playoff victories gave San Rafael an impressive 28 runs in two games against Bakersfield.
Pacific Division Finals Against Martinez
The Pacific Division Finals matched San Rafael against the Martinez Sturgeon.
The series was considerably different from the offensive explosion against Bakersfield. Game 1 was a tight pitching battle, with Martinez edging San Rafael 3-2.
View Pacific Division Finals Game 1 Box Score »
The Pacifics entered the next game needing a victory to extend their season, but Martinez won 8-3 to capture the Pacific Division championship and bring San Rafael's 2026 season to an end.
View Pacific Division Finals Game 2 Box Score »
A Strong Finish to 2026
Although the Pacifics fell short of the Pecos League Championship Series, the 2026 season included another postseason run for San Rafael and an emphatic first-round playoff victory.
The Pacifics entered the postseason playing some of their best offensive baseball of the year and immediately demonstrated it by scoring 28 runs while sweeping Bakersfield. The Pacific Division Finals proved to be the end of the road, with Martinez winning two games to advance.
For San Rafael, the season also provided professional experience to a roster containing players from colleges throughout the country. Players arrived in San Rafael from programs including Sonoma State, Chico State, Fresno Pacific, Oklahoma Baptist, Cal State East Bay, Vanguard, Georgetown College, Pacific University and Hawaii-Hilo.
Veterans mixed with first-year professional players throughout the summer, and the group remained in contention long enough to earn its opportunity in the postseason.
The final chapter of the 2026 season was a playoff run that saw the San Rafael Pacifics sweep the Bakersfield Train Robbers before advancing to the Pacific Division Finals against the Martinez Sturgeon. It was another summer of professional baseball at Albert Park and another postseason appearance in the history of the San Rafael Pacifics.