The sound of “Play Ball!” will be heard across the Midwest this weekend as the American Association of Professional Baseball (@AA_Baseball) opens the 2026 regular season. The Cleburne Railroaders host the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in the lid-lifter on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. CT/8:05 p.m. ET, available free for live viewing on AABaseball.tv. The upcoming season is an exciting one for the MLB Partner League, with player storylines, new partners and an expanded broadcast footprint part of the league’s growth.
Here are 10 (or so) Things to Know about the AAPB this week:
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- The AAPB recently announced strategic partnerships with Rhodes Bake-N-Serv (Official Bread), ForeverLawn (Official Artificial Turf), Catch (Preferred Supplier, technology), and Engine (Travel Booking), among others.
- The Kane County Cougars will adopt an alternate identity, the Swedish Meatballs, celebrating the strong Swedish population in Geneva, Ill., for games on June 13, July 31 and August 20.
- Lake Country Dockhounds players will wear custom “Dogs of Lake Country” jerseys on three select nights during the 2026 season, with the jerseys to be auctioned off after the August 26 contest
- The Kansas City Monarchs, who for those not in the know have adopted the branding of the famed Negro League franchise, on Monday introduced new owner Quint Studer to the community and local media. Studer has made a significant pledge to KCM and AAPB fans, planning to invest $1 million in game-day improvements, according to the Kansas City Business Journal.
- Also in the business realm, Security National Bank has obtained field naming rights at Sioux City’s Lewis & Clark Park.
- The league’s burgeoning broadcast partnerships got another boost this week with the announcement of a regular Game of the Week on Unbeaten Sports Channel, streamed on freevee, Sling Freestream, Fubo, Prime Video, FireTV and more in the U.S. and other platforms worldwide.
- The Kane County Cougars repeated as AAPB champions last year, and they proved their mettle by winning the 2026 Baseball Champions League title in March in Mexico City. All-Time home run champ Jabari Henry blasted the game-winning three-run homer in the eighth in KCC’s win over Los Dantos de Managua of Nicaragua, setting up a Championship Game showdown with Mexican League champs Diablos Rojos, a 7-3 Cougars triumph.
- The Sioux Falls Canaries signed former New York Yankees prospect Anthony Hall, a University of Oregon product who last played at Hudson Valley (A) in 2025.
- Former Phillies AAA infielder/outfielder Matt Kroon signed with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. He played seven years in the Phils’ system
- A recent change in the Philadelphia Phillies’ on-field coaching staff has given an opportunity to former Lincoln Saltdog Anthony Contreras, who has been named third base coach for the MLB club.
- The Cleburne Railroaders will hold Grandparents Night on Friday, which will feature a special grandparents parade
- On Saturday, the Milwaukee Milkmen will host Weird Wisconsin Night, celebrating the traditions, personalities, and quirky culture that make Wisconsin unique.
- A few AAPB alums have found homes with MLB affiliates, including recent signees:
- The Atlanta Braves inked lefty Julio Robaina, who pitched for the Kansas City Monarchs last year and was Cuba’s No. 3 starter in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The Braves assigned him to the AA Columbus (Ga.) Clingstones.
- Ex-Chicago Dogs hurler Brady Miller signed with the New York Mets, where he made his first start for the A affiliate Brooklyn Cyclones, fanning seven in five innings on Sunday.
- Jack Nedrow, who went 3-4 with a 3.59 ERA for the Chicago Dogs last year, joined the Toronto Blue Jays’s single-A affiliate in Dunedin.
- Media interest in AAPB remains strong. Some of the recent articles on teams include:
- Former Sioux Falls Canary Jordan Barth is making a name for himself with the Texas Tailgaters in Banana Ball, 1520TheTicket in Rochester, Minn. reports.
- 101Now.com previewed the Lincoln Saltdogs season with manager James Frisbie
- KSJC and KTIV prepared their looks at the Sioux City Explorers
- KC Parent let fans know about upcoming Star Wars Night at Legends Field
- The Winnipeg Free Press’s Jets writer Mike McIntyre profiled Goldeyes slugger Max Murphy as he begins his sixth year with the club, and also reported from training camp.
- Kansas City Magazine offered up the Monarchs’ home opener as one of its featured “Best Things to Do in KC This Month”
- KOLN/KGIN noted the retirement of Saltdogs President Charlie Meyer, who guided the club from its inception through its 25th season
- SVG highlighted the new Daktronics scoreboard installed by the Gary SouthShore RailCats at U.S. Steel Yard.
- MLB.com used Kane County’s Baseball Champions League victory to delve into the world of international club baseball.
- Cougars righthander Ernie Day was part of a CubsInsider.com roundup of hard throwers looking to make their way back to an affiliate.
- CHVN chronicled upgrades at Blue Cross Park as the Winnipeg Goldeyes get set for 2026, which include a new LED field lighting system provided by Ballpark Lighting Inc., new, polished concrete flooring throughout the Skysuite level and new grandstand seating and flooring.
- Ballpark Digest wrote about the KC Roots purchase of the Monarchs.
About the American Association of Professional Baseball
The American Association of Professional Baseball (www.aabaseball.com) and (www.aabaseball.tv) is a Major League Baseball Partner League that operates in nine states and one Canadian province. Formed in 2006, the league consists of twelve member clubs with many beginning play in 1993. Through the 2025 season, 483 player contracts have been transferred to MLB organizations. In addition, 60 AAPB alumni have reached the Majors, including 17 participating in 2025.
– AAPB –
Contact:
Joe Favorito, joefavorito2@gmail.com, 917-566-8345
Jerry Milani, jerry@jerrymilani.com, 917-797-5663
