In Anaheim, California, the SoCal Nike RBI program, formerly the Angels RBI League, has long partnered with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation to deliver Badges for Baseball, a program designed to teach young people the fundamentals of the game alongside lessons in respect, responsibility, and perseverance. It was within this environment that Joseph Najera first stepped onto the field, beginning a journey shaped by mentorship and accountability.

As a participant, Joseph embraced both the structure and expectations of the program. Practices focused on fundamentals, but the lessons extended further. Coaches and mentors emphasized discipline, teamwork, and doing the right thing when no one was watching. Those principles stayed with him, influencing how he approached both academics and athletics.

Building on that foundation, Joseph pursued higher education with purpose. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, followed by a secondary math teaching credential, and later a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction. Each step reflected a commitment to growth and a desire to lead in meaningful ways.

Today, Joseph serves as a math teacher and head baseball coach at Saddleback High School in Santa Ana. In the classroom, he challenges students to think critically and stay engaged. On the field, he brings the same standards he learned years earlier, emphasizing preparation, accountability, and team culture.

His impact is evident. Under his leadership, the Saddleback baseball program reached its first playoff appearance in 19 years and secured its first playoff win in decades, milestones that reflect both performance and belief.

Joseph’s journey represents the full arc of the Ripken Foundation’s mission. A young participant becomes a student. A student becomes a leader. And a coach returns those same lessons to the next generation, continuing a cycle of mentorship that started with a single opportunity.