McGuire Opts for UCLA Over Stanford

Ryan McGuire of El Camino Real High, who helped lead an area team to the American Legion World Series title last summer, has orally committed to play baseball at UCLA.

McGuire, a left-handed first baseman-pitcher, had narrowed his choices to Stanford and UCLA. McGuire said he will sign a letter of intent April 11, the first day of the baseball signing period.

McGuire, 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, said he was offered a partial scholarship from Stanford and a full scholarship from UCLA. The Bruins’ 10-1 start made the decision easier. UCLA is ranked 15th by Baseball America.

“I felt all along that the program would be on the rise,” said McGuire, whose father, Ken, works in the UCLA athletic department. “The 10-1 start confirmed it.

“Another big issue was that Stanford has so many great athletes that I probably wouldn’t be able to break into the lineup for a couple of years. At UCLA, I should be able to play at first base and pitch some, even in my first year.”

After batting .397 at El Camino Real two seasons ago, McGuire was selected Cal-Hi Sports’ sophomore Player of the Year. Last summer, McGuire played on the Woodland Hills West American Legion team, which became the first entry from Valley-based District 20 to win a World Series title.

During the Legion regular season, district and area playoffs, McGuire batted .416 with five home runs and 30 runs batted in for West, which finished 38-7. He was was selected the most valuable player in the state tournament in Yountville, Calif., after hitting four home runs and driving in 12 runs.