California catcher Alex Birge has signed a professional baseball contract with the St. Louis Cardinals as an undrafted free agent. Birge, who played one season at Cal as a redshirt junior in 2025 after three years at Wichita State, expressed gratitude for his time at Cal.
“My time at Cal was some of the best of my life,” Birge stated. “I can’t thank the coaches enough for believing in me and giving me a shot. I got to play alongside some of the best guys in the country and made friendships that will last a lifetime. I’m pumped for the next chapter with the Cardinals and ready to get after it, but none of this would’ve been possible without the support from the Cal baseball program.”
Cal head coach Mike Neu praised Birge’s performance during his time with the team. “Alex did a great job in his one season in our program last year,” Neu said. “He is a tremendous leader. He has always been an excellent defensive catcher, and last year he added a strong offensive dimension to his game. We are so happy for him to get started on his professional career. He will be a great addition to the Cardinals’ organization.”
Birge’s collegiate career included playing 88 games between Wichita State and California, achieving a .209 batting average with 12 home runs and 28 RBI. In 2025, he played 45 games with 41 starts, leading Cal in home runs (12) and walks (40). He also ranked second in on-base percentage (.415) and third in runs scored (38), while leading regulars in slugging percentage (.582).
Birge was recognized for his academic achievements as well, being named to the Academic All-America Baseball teams by College Sports Communicators as a second-team selection.
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