By Although it may not have been the ideal season for the Long Beach State Dirtbags, graduate outfielder Kyle Ashworth has remained a bright spot in the lineup all season.
Ashworth has put up career numbers in almost every category this season, currently riding a .341 batting average, .936 on-base plus slugging percentage and 30 RBIs.
Defensively, he has locked down right field for the Dirtbags with a perfect fielding percentage.
“[Head coach TJ Bruce] really helped me find the mental part of the game, and ever since then, it’s just been easier for me to go out onto the field and play without thinking,” Ashworth said.
Ashworth, who hails from Santa Ana, California, came from an athletic background. His father was a three-sport athlete playing baseball, football and soccer and was drafted to Major League Baseball, but declined to play collegiate football at Washington State University.
Ashworth followed the same path, but was more interested in baseball, leading him to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
It did not shape out the way he thought, as he finished his freshman season with only 30 plate appearances with two hits.
His 2020 season with Cal Poly led him to have doubts about his future in baseball, but an opportunity to play alongside his brother, Brady Ashworth, at Santa Ana College revitalized his dream as he eventually earned his way to LBSU.
In his time at LBSU, Ashworth has improved his batting average and RBI total every year, elevating his confidence to new heights that have not gone unnoticed.
“You don’t know if he’s 0-for-4 or 4-for-4 that day, he’s just looking to get better for the next opportunity,” Bruce said. “Success leaves clues, and he’s been nothing but successful at this level and this program.”
Before every game, Ashworth gives himself a pep talk while listening to a playlist to prepare mentally for the game and bring up his confidence at the plate.
“I think about like, these guys having to face me today, they’re cooked,” Ashworth said.
Although Ashworth is not the most outspoken teammate, his strive to improve and be the best version of himself he can be makes an impact on teammates like senior center fielder Alex Champagne.
“I’ll be like, ‘ Kyle, that was a good hit. You smoked that ball,’ and he says ‘No!’ And to me it’s just a strive to be perfect,” Champagne said.
Ashworth’s time as a Dirtbag is coming to a close with just four games, all on the road, left in the regular season, but he has not let emotions get the best of him, as he is still focused on winning.
Senior outfielder Kyle Ashworth has been with the Dirtbags since 2023, and his time with the team has come to an end. With LBSU, he has a .314 career average with 177 hits and 86 RBI. Photo credit: Ethan Cohen
For Champagne, the inevitable fact that he has played his last at Blair Field with his teammate of three seasons, Ashworth, has set in.
“Right before I throw the first ball, with my glove hand, I’ll point at him twice like, ‘It’s time to go,’” Champagne said. “Yesterday I was teary-eyed, and when I got out there I just called him in and gave him a hug.”
At 24 years old, Ashworth would rather take part in attempting to sign with an MLB team as a free agent, than enter the MLB draft, claiming that he is “too old,” but his sights are set on making it to a professional roster.
“One dollar I would take to get a chance,” Ashworth said. “I believe in myself, and I know if I get a chance at the next level, I can make an impact.”
