Without much fanfare — and certainly very quietly — some of the Inland Empire’s hometown heroes have returned home, or as close as possible on the professional level.

Southern California fans usually root for the eight local teams at the four professional levels: Dodgers and Angels in Major League Baseball; Lakers and Clippers in the NBA; Kings and Ducks in the NHL; Galaxy and Chivas USA in the MLS. That’s a far cry from yesteryear, as those generations who had East Coast roots have grown old.

It isn’t that far in the past when a high school or college player from east of Kellogg Hill in either Los Angeles or San Bernardino county made headlines by reaching the pro level. It was even more unusual, if not rare, for any one of them to make an L.A. roster.

But this is 2013 and those days are truly in the past. Especially in the last week or so.

Landon Donovan of Redlands is on the Galaxy roster and Carlos Bocanegra, an Alta Loma High School graduate, was recently signed by Chivas USA. The Angels, who dealt away Redlands East Valley High graduate Tyler Chatwood in 2012, added Tommy Hanson, another REV grad, and Jason Vargas of Apple Valley prior to the current season.

Also add the name of Ricky Nolasco, the Rialto High School graduate just traded to the Dodgers, and Etiwanda grad Darren Collison, who recently signed with the Clippers.

The six represent a high point for Inland Empire athletes and their roots.

They are the latest in a line of such local athletes who have donned an L.A. uniform. The list includes such names as Pomona’s Bill Singer, who pitched for both the Dodgers (1964-72) and Angels (1973-79); Sean Rooks, the Fontana grad who played for the Lakers (1996-99) and Clippers (2000-03); Mike Harkey, out of Pomona, who pitched for the Angels (1995) and Dodgers (1997); Mike Munoz, the Cal Poly Pomona pitcher, who started his MLB career with the Dodgers (1989-90); Jonathan Bornstein, the one-time Cal Poly Pomona soccer player who played with Chivas USA (2006-10); Chad Moeller from Upland caught for the Dodgers in 2007; Fontana’s Ante Razov with Chivas (2006-09); Bryan Russell, of San Bernardino, with the Lakers (2003) and Jim Edmonds, of Diamond Bar, with the Angels (1993-99).

They represent just a small number of Inland Empire who have reached the pro level. While it can be a dream come true, as Nolasco revealed upon learning of the transition that brought him from Florida, there’s another benefit.

Being closer to their roots also provides them with a support structure in trying times. Long-distance calls, tweets and Facebook comments are replaced by face-to-face meetings.

For family, friends and former teammates, it’s a huge change. They will finally be afforded an opportunity to see players display their talents and skills on a regular basis, rather than keeping a careful eye on the schedule.

Just as rare are Inland Empire baseball players who have played in the area in the California League. In addition to proving support for the players, family, friends and former classmates aren’t shy about pushing the turnstiles at LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga, San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino or Staters Bros. Stadium in Adelanto.

That formula has aided the Temptation of the Legends Football League at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, and also boosted the indoor football Warriors before they disbanded.

This season, the Inland Empire 66ers have Trevor Hairgrove out of REV on the roster; Ryan Mount of Ayala plays for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and former Carter High School pitcher Stephen Landazuri and Claremont’s Matt Anderson are a draw for the Mavericks.

In the past, other locals who have played in the Cal League — not including those who were on the San Bernardino roster — were Michael Wing (Upland) and Taylor Wilding (Etiwanda) with the Quakes; Chatwood, Robert Fish (Miller) and Pomona’s Jessie Mier with the 66ers, in addition to Nolasco’s older brother Mike with High Desert.

There has always been athletic talent from the Inland Empire, just never rising to the top all at one time.

Louis Brewster is a sports columnist who appears Sunday and Tuesday. He can be reached at 909-483-9363, louis.brewster@inlandnewspapers.com, Twitter.com?LouBrewsterSpts.