Sutter's Beck signs with Hawaii: Husky pitcher to join Big West in 2024-25
Nov. 17—While he may be playing for a Sac-Joaquin Section football championship upon waking up today (Saturday), Sutter Union High senior Jagger Beck has made it clear that his No. 1 sport is baseball.
Beck made it official last week on National Signing Day when the 6-foot-6, 205-pound right-handed fireballer inked a national letter of intent to play Division I baseball at the University of Hawaii of the Big West Conference.
Beck reportedly had interest from Cal, Oregon, LSU, among others.
But it was Hawaii that won Beck over.
"All my eyes were there," he said.
Beck, who helped Sutter to a Northern California Regional title a year ago, said he likes the competitiveness of those who grow up on the island.
"Hawaiian kids are some of the most competitive people I have ever seen play," Beck said following his signing on Nov. 8. "They will not go out without fighting you."
Beck's recruiting trail gained significant traction after he partnered with Butch Baccala, national scout crosschecker and founder of Athlete 911, a site dedicated to growing young men on and off the baseball field.
Beck said Baccala, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1983 and advanced as high as single-A, pushed the right buttons to move the Husky forward.
"He put me out there right away," Beck said.
Beck's talent did the rest. He registered 123 strikeouts in 67-plus innings to finish No. 2 in the section in 2023. He earned 10 wins on the hill to just one defeat and collected seven complete games as a junior.
Beck's win total tied him for tops in the section with Nic Abraham of Franklin (Elk Grove).
Beck hopes to be even better in 2024.
"I'm looking forward to (getting) another state 'ship — 2-peat," Beck said.
Beck will join a Hawaii team that went 29-20 overall and 18-12 in the Big West in 2023. Other members of the Big West include UC San Diego, CS Fullerton, Northridge, Irvine, San Barbara, Long Beach State, Cal Poly, Bakersfield, UC Davis and Riverside.
