BERKELEY – As the Cal baseball team prepares to enter the 2017 season with a young, potential-laden squad, the Bears are also working to set the stage for future success as head coach David Esquer announced at the end of the signing period a group of eight players that has committed to join the team for the 2018 campaign.

In the field, Esquer and the Bears welcome a talented and versatile group of newcomers. Infielders Darren Baker (Jesuit HS), Quentin Selma (Buchanan HS) and Sam Wezniak (Sage Creek HS) are joined by outfielders Sam Cachola (Northwood HS) and Connor Mack (Bellarmine College Prep HS) to make up Cal's five-man group of incoming position players. On the mound, Cal will welcome a trio of additions in left-hander Justin Bruihl (Cal Poly/Casa Grande HS) and right-handers Carson Olson (Buchanan HS) and Michael Weisberg (Agoura HS). Cal's entire recruiting class is homegrown, with each player hailing from the state of California.

 "With as young a team as we have this year, these are the right pieces to step in a year from now and complement what we'll already have returning," Esquer said. "Wezniak, Selma and Baker have the ability to play the infield and have some versatility so they are perfect pieces to complement what we have returning, as are Mack and Cachola in the outfield. On the pitching side, Bruihl continues to add to our left-handed arms with college experience and he'll be able to step in right away. Weisberg and Olson are strong right-handed pitchers who will help us in the same way. I really feel like these players will definitely make it a season of how far can they get in the postseason, not if they can get in the postseason."

Here is a look at the newest Cal baseball signees:

INF Darren Baker (Granite Bay, Calif. / Jesuit HS)

Jesuit HS infielder named second team All-State underclass by CalHiSports.com after a 2016 season in which he hit .386 with 39 hits, 30 runs, 16 RBI, five doubles, a .448 on-base percentage and 16 stolen bases…Second team All-Underclass selection by Perfect Game…Played for the Oakland A's squad at the Area Code Games where he hit leadoff and played center field…Son of Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker served as an intern for the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy in the summer of 2016.

Assistant coach Brad Sanfilippo on Baker: "Darren is probably one of the best all-around in terms of base running, knowing all aspects of the game and being able to be skilled at all of those things. He's a left-handed hitter who can play shortstop, third, second. We think he's a middle of the field type of guy for us and, if not second or shortstop, he can also play center field. He's a super smart baseball player. Obviously, he's grown up around the game and we know that his baseball IQ is extremely high. We know that he's been a successful high school performer for a Jesuit program that we've had a lot of success with kids coming here. We think he's going to make an immediate impact."

LHP Justin Bruihl (Petaluma, Calif. / Cal Poly / Casa Grande HS)

Cal Poly transfer appeared in 25 games (one start) in 2016, going 1-3 with a 4.88 ERA…Also picked up two saves for the Mustangs and comes to Berkeley with sophomore standing…Pitched for the Walla Walla Sweets of the West Coast League in the summer of 2016 and went 1-1 with a 0.00 ERA, four saves, 21 strikeouts and only two walks in 15 innings pitched…Went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA over 17 1/3 innings and hot .302 with 10 RBI as a senior at Casa Grande High School to earn All-North Bay League honorable mention…Helped Casa Grande go 21-7 in 2015 and win the NBL.

Assistant coach Thomas Eager on Bruihl: "Left-handed pitcher who is going to help us add depth. Runs his fastball 88 to 92, has a good feel for the change and a good curve ball. Pitched a year at Cal Poly where he was very successful as a freshman. Coming off Tommy John surgery when he was a senior in high school, he has really performed and gotten himself in good shape. He brings a resilience and adds toughness to our team, especially having already played Division I baseball. I look for him to hopefully pitch significant innings for us, whether that's starting or closing."

OF Sam Cachola (Irvine, Calif. / Northwood HS)

Honorable mention All-Pacific Coast League selection for Northwood HS in 2016…Named a Perfect Game Underclass high honorable mention All-American in both 2015 and 2016…Played sophomore season at Mater Dei High School where he hit .303 with 30 hits, 13 runs, eight RBI, four doubles and a home run for the Monarchs…Also played football at Mater Dei.

Assistant coach Brad Sanfilippo on Cachola: "Sam is a physical right-handed bat who started his career at Mater Dei and was an impact player for one of the better high school programs in Southern California. He transferred (to Northwood) but he's again a kid that we think is pretty versatile in that he can play three outfield positions. He knows how to play the game, is a really smart baseball player and adds to the versatility of this class."

OF Connor Mack (San Jose, Calif. / Bellarmine College Prep High School)

Two-year varsity contributor has appeared in 55 games for Bellarmine College Prep…hit .298 as a junior with 28 hits, 14 RBI, 22 runs, 3 doubles, two triples and two home runs…has stolen 22 bases in two years…did not make an error in 2016…second team All-West Catholic Athletic League selection in 2015…owned a 4.7 grade-point average at Bellarmine.

Assistant coach Brad Sanfilippo on Mack: "Connor is a physical right-handed bat that is probably an above-average runner. Again, he plays for a successful high school at Bellarmine. He's a good athlete with tremendous upside to hit with some physicality in the middle of our order and drive in runs. We think he can defend in three different outfield positions."

RHP/OF Carson Olson (Clovis, Calif. / Buchanan HS)

Comes to Berkeley by way of the same Buchanan High School program as infielder Quentin Selma…Helped the Bears finish the 2016 season ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps.com…Appeared in 11 games for Buchanan as a junior and had two hits in 10 at-bats…Drove in a pair of runs in a pinch-hit role in Buchanan's 10-0 win over Clovis West…On the mound, made two appearances and allowed just one hit while walking one and striking out two in two innings of work.

Assistant coach Thomas Eager on Olson: "He's somewhat of a late bloomer. I saw him early in the summer and his average fastball hovered around the 84-86 range. I saw him a couple weeks ago and he ran it up to 91 sitting 90 with a plus curve ball. I think he's going to add more depth to our team and I think he has the potential, with his downhill fastball and a big frame, to get more velocity in there. He's going to have to get more time on the mound and more experience but he definitely has the projection to end up one day being a starter or, if the velocity increases, a back end of the bullpen guy. Multiple coaches in the Fresno area said the same thing – extremely hard worker, extremely dedicated and extremely tough kid. That's going to fit the mold of what we have going here with our staff and the rest of our team."

INF Quentin Selma (Clovis, Calif. / Buchanan HS)

Accomplished corner infielder garnered second team All-State and first team All-State underclass honors from CalHiSports.com in 2016…Hit .443 with 43 hits, 29 RBI, 29 runs, 10 doubles, five triples and four home runs as a junior for the Bears…Also made a contribution on the mound as a junior, appearing in 11 games and compiling a 1-1 record with a 1.31 ERA, six saves, 17 strikeouts and a opponents' batting average of .119…Named a Perfect Game Underclass high honorable mention All-American in both 2015 and 2016…Played for the Oakland A's squad at the 2016 Area Code Games.

Assistant coach Brad Sanfilippo on Selma: "Quentin is a pro-body type left-handed hitting third baseman. He played for a national champion last year and anchored the middle of their order. He's a winner, too. With his dad being a JC coach at Fresno City College, he's a baseball rat and that's the kind of work ethic we love here in terms of his desire to be around the game and get better. He was an Area Code team selection, had great numbers and won awards in that league in Fresno, which is phenomenal baseball. He's a plus defender at the corner and a physical left-handed bat that will hit for average, too. I think he's going to come in and make an immediate impact."

RHP Michael Weisberg (Agoura Hills, Calif. / Agoura HS)

Earned Marmonte League Pitcher of the Year honors in both 2015 and 2016 and helped Agoura finish as co-league champions in 2016…Named a second team All-Ventura County selection for large schools by the Ventura County Baseball Coaches Association…Went 7-1 with a 0.98 ERA in the 2016 regular season for the Chargers…Named to the all-tournament team at the 2016 Perfect Game/EvoShield Upperclass Championships as well as the 2016 17-under Perfect Game World Series.

Assistant coach Thomas Eager on Weisberg: "Michael is a tall right-hander that throws three pitches for strikes. He was the ace as a junior for Agoura and will be again this year. His fastball ranges 87 to 91 and he does have feel for off-speed pitches. With his size and his arm speed we're looking for him to potentially be a starter and be able to fill a need right away, potentially in the bullpen, because of his off-speed pitches."

INF Sam Wezniak (Carlsbad, Calif. / Sage Creek HS)

Versatile infielder starred for Sage Creek as a junior in 2016, hitting .354 with 24 RBI, 34 runs scored, eight doubles, five triples and five home runs…Also plays for the same Team California Warriors travel squad that produced current Golden Bear Korey Lee… Named a Perfect Game Underclass high honorable mention All-American in both 2015 and 2016…Named to San Diego Union-Tribune All-Academic Team in 2016 with a 3.77 GPA.

Assistant coach Brad Sanfilippo on Wezniak: "We think Sam is going to be a special offensive player. He's a physical, right-handed bat and being able to play the middle infield, it's rare to find a kid as physical as he is with the bat as he is being able to play multiple positions. We think he's a shortstop, but he can play second and third. He led his high school in its first varsity year to a championship so I think he's a winner. I think he's going to have an immediate impact for us."