California catcher Alex Birge was named Tuesday to the 2025 Academic All-America® Baseball teams as a second-team selection. College Sports Communicators named first, second and third teams to recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom.

Birge is the fourth baseball player in Cal history to earn the prestigious Academic All-America® recognition and the first since 1974 when catcher Brad Brian (first team) and outfielder Steve Derian (second team) were honored. Cal's other selection was pitcher Neil Ernst, a second-team pick in 1970 and 1971.

Cal has had 14 all-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections in baseball with Birge and pitcher Gavin Eddy the most recent last month.

Birge spent the 2025 season at California after transferring from Wichita State (2022-24).
 
Alex Birge, C, 6-0, 205, R-Jr.., 1st Season At Cal (Olathe, Kan./Wichita State/Olathe HS)
Cal Major: Graduate Certificate – Business And Entrepreneurship
Wichita State Major: Exercise Science
Undergraduate GPA: 3.93
Graduate GPA: 3.67
Cumulative GPA: 3.90
2025 Season
- Led Cal in home runs (12) and walks (40), while he was second in on-base percentage (.415), third in runs scored (38), and among regulars, first in slugging percentage (.582)
- Played in 45 games with 41 starts (37 C, 3 DH, 1 1B)
- Ended the season on a career-high four-game hit streak May 16-22 (.455, 5-11, 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 7 BB, 1 HBP)
- 22 of his 31 hits were for extra bases (12 HR, 9 2B, 1 3B)
- Hit all 12 of his career home runs in a collegiate career that began at Wichita State in 2022
- Threw out 11-of-31 (.355) opposing base runners attempting to steal
- Started the ACC Championship by equaling career highs with two homers and four RBI on May 20 against Miami then walked five times May 21 against Wake Forest to equal a school-record and the most by a Division I player in 2025

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