Baseball: David Berg is returning to UCLA

No decision in college baseball might have been more important than David Berg’s decision to return to UCLA for his senior year and not sign with the Texas Rangers after being a 17th-round draft pick.

As Bruins Coach John Savage said when the 2 p.m. signing deadline had passed on Friday, “To have him back for one more season is special.”

What it means is Berg, a closer who set an NCAA single-season record in 2013 with 24 saves during UCLA’s NCAA championship season, will give a major boost to the Bruins’ chances of returning to the NCAA playoffs after missing last season’s tournament because of a series of injuries.

Berg, who has a sidearm delivery, is invaluable in the bullpen, because he can throw almost every day during a weekend series. He started off at UCLA as a walk-on from La Puente Bishop Amat but immediately became a key contributor. He was hampered this past season by a strained bicep muscle and took the summer off from pitching.

“If the Rangers had offered me what I was looking for, I could have changed my mind,” Berg said. “The thought process was four years ago, when I was making my decision to go to UCLA, it was a golden opportunity to pitch under Coach Savage. To be able to get a degree from UCLA, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’m glad to be back for my teammates.”

Twitter:@LATSondheimer