COD Baseball: Leon signs letter with UCLA

College of the Desert center fielder Brandon Leon (La Quinta H.S.) has signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his academic and athletic career at UCLA.

Leon's complete 2026 season review can be found HERE

Leon, from La Quinta H.S., began his collegiate career, playing his freshman season at California State University Northridge. During his sophomore season with the Roadrunners, Leon collected a host of postseason honors, earning ABCA/Rawlings Pacific Division All-America First Team recognition, Inland Empire Athletic Conference (IEAC) Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors, and an IEAC Gold Glove Award.

Leon delivered one of the most dominant single-season performances in Roadrunner history, finishing among the state's Top 5 in doubles (2nd, 24), batting average (5th, .458), and stolen bases (5th, 33). He also ranked among the Top 10 in hits (6th, 77), on-base percentage (7th, .533), and total bases (9th, 118).

The 5-foot-9, 170-pound sophomore led the IEAC in batting average, RBIs, and stolen bases, while finishing tied for third in home runs with five. Leon recorded 25 multi-hit games during the 2026 campaign, including 12 contests with three or more hits, two four-hit performances, and a six-hit game. He also posted 15 multi-RBI games, including seven with three or more RBIs, and scored multiple runs in 17 games, including four contests with three runs scored.

Leon delivered his signature performance of the season on March 17 against Victor Valley, going 6-for-7 with six RBIs and one run scored from the leadoff spot. His six RBIs matched the highest single-game total by a Roadrunner since 2024, while his six hits were the most by a College of the Desert player in a game since 2022.

University of California, Los Angeles is located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, which is about 135 miles west of College of the Desert. UCLA, located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, competes in NCAA Division I as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Bruins play their home games at Jackie Robinson Stadium and are led by Head Coach John Savage, who will enter his 23rd season in 2027. UCLA finished the 2026 season with a 52-8 overall record and a 28-2 conference mark, capturing the Big Ten Championship. UCLA is in the Big Ten Conference of NCAA Division I.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Darbie Catalfamo Photography.