With the Baseball Champions League Americas tournament in the rearview mirror, attention on the American Association focuses back on the run-up to the 2026 season.
Today marks the final day of March, meaning that there is basically a month and a half until the curtain lifts on the season on May 14. With the last full month of roster building upon us, over the next two days, we’ll take full stock at where every team is in building their 2026 team.
GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING NOTES:
- All signings listed here are reported by the American Association’s official transactions page
- All signings are as of March 30, 2026
- If a player was acquired in a trade, they are not considered “signed” until the AA lists the player as signed with their new team after the trade has been completed
- Players who were previously signed but have been released, traded away, or signed by an MLB organization are not listed
First, we’ll take a look at the East Division:
Chicago Dogs
| PITCHERS (11) | 2025 Team (unless otherwise noted) |
| Jose Acuna (L) | 2024 – Lexington (Atlantic) |
| Keoni Cavaco | CHICAGO |
| Cade Connolly (L) | Michigan (NCAA) |
| Nick DeCarlo | Tri-City (Frontier)/Carolina (A)/ACL Brewers (Rok.) |
| Regi Grace Jr. | Durango (Mexican)/Washington (Frontier) |
| Steven Lacey | CHICAGO/Lancaster (Atlantic) |
| Eric Lin | CHICAGO/Kansas (NCAA) |
| Dwayne Marshall | CHICAGO |
| Darrien Ragins (L) | Lake Erie (Frontier) |
| David Reckers | 2024 – Lexington (Atlantic)/Ogden (Pioneer) |
| RHP Bryce Schaum | CHICAGO/Carthage (NAIA) |
| CATCHERS (3) | |
| Craig Corliss | Joliet/Windy City (Frontier) |
| Jaxx Groshans | Rocket City (AA)/Cleburne |
| Chance Sisco | CHICAGO |
| INFIELDERS (5) | |
| Brian Fuentes | Lexington (Atlantic) |
| Daniel Harris | Oakland (Pioneer) |
| Derek Maiben | Lincoln/Fargo-Moorhead/CHICAGO |
| Tyreque Reed | Washington (Frontier) |
| INF Jaylyn Williams | CHICAGO/Kansas City |
| OUTFIELDERS (5) | |
| Aaron Altherr | Cleburne |
| CJ Cepicky | Northern Illinois (NCAA) |
| Gio DiGiacomo | Southern Maryland (Atlantic) |
| Jacob Maiben | CHICAGO |
| Michael Torniero | 2024 – Central Connecticut State (NCAA) |
Analysis: The Dog got off to a late start as manager Stan Cliburn wasn’t hired until the week before Christmas, so not surprisingly, there’s a large amount of turnover on this roster, though nine men are set to return from a 50-49 club from last year.
Offensively, Sisco is the only major contributor returning, but he’s a big piece; as he was a Postseason All-Star with a .977 OPS and 57 extra-base hits last year. Altherr and Williams both were All-Star Game selections for other clubs last year and Groshans was a Postseason All-Star in 2024, bringing some legitimate AA pedigree into the lineup, though most everyone else will be coming from outside the league. DiGiacomo is the headlining AA newcomer, after posting an .811 OPS with 14 home runs in the Atlantic League last year.
On the mound, Cavaco logged a 4.10 ERA in 79.1 innings last year, while Lacey took a step back after solid 2023 and ’24 seasons and also spent time in the Atlantic League. Lin was very good (2.51 ERA in 22 outings) out of the bullpen last year, while Marshall and Schaum will look to rebound after difficult first years in Chicago. As far as newcomers, Grace had a 3.54 ERA in 11 Frontier League starts last year and will be in the rotation mix. Ragins is a late bloomer who has been a Frontier League All-Star as both a reliever and a starter.
As a side note: RHP Andres Diaz was acquired from Gary SouthShore in late February, but has not signed with the Dogs (hence why he is not listed). He allows a lot of baserunners, but did throw over 100.0 innings each of the last two years, so he is another viable rotation option if Chicago is able to get pen to paper.
Cleburne Railroaders
| PITCHERS (16) | 2025 Team (unless otherwise noted) |
| John Baker | Chicago |
| Brock Bell | Chicago/Lancaster (Atlantic) |
| Derek Craft | CLEBURNE |
| Scott Ellis | Yuba-Sutter (Pioneer)/Angelo State (NCAA) |
| Ben Hampton (L) | CLEBURNE |
| Brandon Knarr (L) | 2024 – ACL Brewers (Rok.) |
| Leam Mendez | Kansas City |
| Jace Miner (L) | Frederick (MLBDL)/Wichita State (NCAA) |
| Aaron Mishoulam | CLEBURNE/Milwaukee |
| Bodi Rascon (L) | Fort Wayne (A+)/Lake Elsinore (A) |
| Luke Short | Oakland (Pioneer) |
| Cameron Smith | Joliet (Frontier) |
| Davis Smith | Frederick (MLBDL)/Georgia State (NCAA) |
| Joe Steeber | West Virginia (MLBDL)/Texas-Arlington (NCAA) |
| Tristan Stivors | 2024 – Birmingham (AA)/ACL White Sox (Rok.) |
| Paul Turelli (L) | 2024 – Rockford (NCAA) |
| CATCHERS (1) | |
| Angel Mendoza | Glacier (Pioneer) |
| INFIELDERS (4) | |
| Christian Almanza | Oakland (Pioneer) |
| Brantley Bell | Chicago/Kansas City |
| Caleb McNeely | York (Atlantic)/Fort Myers (A+)/Washington (Frontier) |
| Brandon Wagner | Lancaster (Atlantic) |
| OUTFIELDERS (5) | |
| Jorge Bonifacio | Kansas City |
| Davis Drewek | Oakland (Pioneer) |
| Chris Roller | Long Island (Atlantic) |
| Alerick Soularie | York (Atlantic) |
| Cody Thomas | Long Island (Atlantic) |
Analysis: Cleburne has brought in a sizeable contingent of Indy ball vets to try to turn things around after a hugely disappointing 2025 season where the Railroaders slipped 17 games from 2024’s pace and missed the postseason. A league-low three returners (all pitchers) are signed up for this season, though one of them is Craft, who posted a respectable 4.67 ERA in 96.1 innings last year.
A glut of pitchers are signed from an array of backgrounds. Baker has had success in Chicago, but struggled in 2025, though led the Dogs in innings pitched, while Mendez had some moments for Kansas City last year. Knarr is a wild card who had an exceptional first full season in affiliated ball in 2022, but has struggled to find his form since. Five pitchers on the staff are either first-time professionals or began 2025 in college.
The lineup is a couple bodies short right now, but is much more accomplished. Bonifacio (.800 OPS, 17 homers) and Bell (.313 AVG, 11 HR) are both All-Stars picked up from other AA clubs. McNeely has had considerable success in other leagues, while Roller and Thomas both were starting outfielders in the Atlantic League last year. Almanza and Drewek will be intriguing to see how they adjust after huge years in the Pioneer League. The Railroaders need a proper starting catcher and (probably) a shortstop, but the lineup is shaping up to be an awfully good one.
Gary SouthShore RailCats
| PITCHERS (8) | 2025 Team (unless otherwise noted) |
| Nate Alexander | GARY SOUTHSHORE |
| J.C. Flowers | Indianapolis (AAA)/Altoona (AA) |
| Bryce Hellgeth | Windy City (Frontier) |
| Peyton Long | GARY SOUTHSHORE |
| Deyni Olivero | GARY SOUTHSHORE |
| Frank Plesac | Joliet (Frontier) |
| Matt Reitz | Hagerstown/Gastonia/Staten Island (Atlantic) |
| Joan Valdez | 2024 – GARY SOUTHSHORE |
| CATCHERS (3) | |
| Cooper Edwards | GARY SOUTHSHORE |
| Pedro Revilla | 2023 – Chunichi (Japan) |
| Drew Stengren | Joliet (Frontier) |
| INFIELDERS (6) | |
| Olivier Basabe | GARY SOUTHSHORE |
| Jake Hoover | GARY SOUTHSHORE |
| Elvis Peralta | GARY SOUTHSHORE |
| Frank Podkul | Great Falls (Pioneer) |
| Nick Podkul | Birmingham (AA)/Schaumburg (Frontier) |
| Joe Suozzi | Southern Maryland (Atlantic)/GARY SOUTHSHORE |
| Cooper Weiss | Southern Maryland (Atlantic)/GARY SOUTHSHORE /Cleburne |
| OUTFIELDERS (5) | |
| LG Castillo | GARY SOUTHSHORE |
| Sebastian Castro | 2024 – FCL Mets (Rok.)/St. Lucie (A)/Brooklyn (A+) |
| Jake Guenther | GARY SOUTHSHORE/Winnipeg |
| Korry Howell | Cleburne |
| Scout Knotts | Lake Erie (Frontier) |
Analysis: In his first full season, manager Jeff Isom looks to build off an encouraging finish to 2025, taking over a 19-44 team and finishing 19-18. But, the RailCats still have finished last three years in a row, so a lot of work needs to be done. To start that task, Gary SouthShore is bringing back 11 players from last year as a foundation (plus another member of 2024’s squad).
The pitching staff was the better side of the ball in 2025, though it’s pretty thin right now, with only eight arms inked. The three returners, though, are all quality ones; top reliever Alexander, plus two legitimately strong starters in Long and Olivero, who each posted sub-4.00 ERAs. That is a great start. Hellgeth was great in relief in the Frontier League two years ago, but a move to the rotation last year didn’t go nearly as well, so we’ll see. Plesac had two decent FL campaigns in relief, while Reitz is the ultimate journeyman: his best ability is availability. Flowers is an interesting Triple-A arm to grab, but the RailCats need a few more of them.
At the plate, there are a few returners that maybe should’ve been sent on their way, but there’s no lack of options for the time being. Catcher is wide open, though that could quickly change if Revilla can unlock the 26-home-run pop he showed in Cuba three winters ago. Peralta hit .314 and stole 31 bases last year as the legitimate star that the RailCats had not had since Colin Willis pre-COVID. He is a huge piece to bring back. Nick Podkul is far and away my favorite pickup of theirs, and joining Weiss and Suozzi could sneakily make this infield very solid. In the outfield, I was surprised Howell didn’t hit in Cleburne last year. A bounceback from him, plus Knotts carrying over some pop from the Frontier League would go a ways, though this is a much shakier group than the infield.
Kane County Cougars
| PITCHERS (9) | 2025 Team (unless otherwise noted) |
| Konnor Ash | KANE COUNTY |
| Ernie Day | Palm Beach (A) |
| Brandon Komar | Louisville (AAA)/Chattanooga (AA) |
| Jordan Martinson (L) | KANE COUNTY |
| Weston Muir | KANE COUNTY |
| Logan Nissen | KANE COUNTY |
| Reese Sharp | Aberdeen (A+)/Delmarva (A)/FCL Orioles (Rok.) |
| Vin Timpanelli | KANE COUNTY |
| Zach Veen (L) | KANE COUNTY |
| CATCHERS (2) | |
| Carlos Amaya | Milwaukee |
| Nick Dalesandro | KANE COUNTY |
| INFIELDERS (5) | |
| Josh Allen | KANE COUNTY |
| Sam Dexter | Southern Maryland (Atlantic) |
| Claudio Finol | KANE COUNTY |
| Todd Lott | KANE COUNTY |
| Zane Spinn | KANE COUNTY/Cleburne/Lamar (NCAA) |
| OUTFIELDERS (1) | |
| Armond Upshaw | KANE COUNTY |
Analysis: Following their second-straight Miles Wolff Cup, Kane County has again been deliberate in re-tooling their roster, with a league-low 17 players signed, but 12 are returners from the title team. They will also look for legitimate upgrades, as after all, Kane County struggled to score runs all summer and was just 49-51 in the regular season before catching fire in September.
The pitching staff is usually the calling card for the Cougars, and no different here. Ash went 10-3 with a 2.76 ERA and 132 strikeouts last year, bringing a huge pedigree back in the ace role, while Muir and Timpanelli return behind him in the rotation. Komar, a Triple-A arm last year, is the most notable import so far and pitched very well in his one Baseball Champions League start last week and will also be a rotation piece. Martinson, Nissen, and Veen are all accomplished high-leverage arms.
Postseason All-Star Todd Lott headlines the lineup after hitting .320 with an .865 OPS and 41 extra-base hits in 2025. After him, bounce-back opportunities abound, as Allen, Dalesandro, and Finol all regressed heavily from ’24 to last season, though Finol was the Wolff Cup Finals MVP last year and Allen was just named BCL Americas MVP, so maybe that juices them some this year. Spinn was an instant upgrade for the retiring Galli Cribbs in his first pro action last year and is back in the middle infield with longtime defensive wizard Sam Dexter, who returns to the AA after a year in the Atlantic League. Upshaw is a dependable outfielder coming back, but there’s no one out there with him right now.
Lake Country DockHounds
| PITCHERS (13) | 2025 Team (unless otherwise noted) |
| Jack Ben-Broshan | Rice (NCAA) |
| Dominic Cancellieri | LAKE COUNTRY/Creighton (NCAA) |
| Alan Zhang Carter | Chihuahua (Mexico) |
| Connor Fenlong | LAKE COUNTRY |
| Luke Hansel | LAKE COUNTRY |
| Chris Jefferson | LAKE COUNTRY |
| Beau Philip | LAKE COUNTRY |
| Jake Pilarski | 2024 – Tulsa (AA)/Great Lakes (A+) |
| Kelvan Pilot | LAKE COUNTRY |
| Trey Riley | LAKE COUNTRY |
| Sebastian Rodriguez | Chihuahua (Mexico)/Washington (Frontier) |
| Jackson Sigman | Kansas City/Staten Island (Atlantic) |
| Anthony Steele (L) | State College (MLBDL)/Penn State (NCAA) |
| CATCHERS (2) | |
| Mat Nelson | Chattanooga (AA) |
| Michael Quinones | Sioux City/Florence (Frontier) |
| INFIELDERS (5) | |
| Sebastian Greico | Ogden (Pioneer)/South Florida (NCAA) |
| Ryan Hernandez | LAKE COUNTRY/Chihuahua (Mexican) |
| Ripken Reyes | El Paso (AAA)/San Antonio (AA) |
| T.J. Salvaggio | State College (MLBDL)/Southeastern Louisiana (NCAA) |
| Peter Zimmermann | Sioux Falls |
| OUTFIELDERS (4) | |
| Connor Bagnieski | Ogden (Pioneer) |
| Dom Johnson | Sussex (Frontier) |
| Brett Roberts | Northern Colorado (Pioneer)/Washington (Frontier) |
| Ray Zuberer III | LAKE COUNTRY |
Analysis: Lake Country has improved in each of their first four seasons in the American Association, culminating in the club’s first division title last year. Fresh off a 55-win season, the DockHounds are still looking for a playoff breakthrough, but will get a good start towards changing that, with nine returners coming back, including seven arms off a strong staff from last year.
The Hounds have some work to do replacing starters, but ace Luke Hansel (9-5, 3.48 ERA in 116.1 innings) is back, plus 2023 Rookie Pitcher of the Year Sebastian Rodriguez returns to the AA after pitching elsewhere last year. Jefferson and Fenlong were both strong as swingmen and Cancellieri excelled as a first-time pro. Pilot will look to bounce back from his worst year as a pro, while Philip and Riley return after good years in the bullpen. Of course, Carter had a absurd 0.72 ERA in 37.2 innings in 2024 for Lake Country and he returns to the AA as another huge pickup. I really, really like the collection of arms that the DockHounds have collected.
The offense required more re-assembly, but 2024 Rookie Position Player of the Year Hernandez is back for year three after bombing 18 homers last year, which is a nice start. Zuberer (.759 OPS, 11 homers, 17 steals) is the only other returning hitter and like Hernandez hopes to bounce back a bit towards their ’24 totals. Zimmermann never quite got it going in Sioux Falls last year, but has hit a ton in the Frontier League in his career, while all three outfield imports had great 2025 seasons, though two of those were in the Pioneer League. The exception Johnson, however, hit .340 with a .939 OPS and 23 steals in the Frontier League a year ago and figures to be very disruptive. Reyes is an absolute hit-by-pitch merchant, so that will be something to keep an eye on. A wild card in the lineup: Quinones hit .339 over 46 games as a first-time pro last year. If he’s anywhere near there, that’s a big boost from the catcher spot.
Milwaukee Milkmen
| PITCHERS (19) | 2025 Team (unless otherwise noted) |
| Raul Alcantara (L) | Norfolk (AAA)/Chesapeake (AA)/Biloxi (AA) |
| Solomon Bates | Oaxaca (Mexican) |
| Edinson Batista | Vancouver (A+)/Dunedin (A) |
| Abel Brito | 2024 – Lynchburg (A) |
| Hunter Bryan | Rocky Mountain (Pioneer) |
| A.J. Campbell | Williamsport (MLBDL)/Barton (NCAA) |
| Dominic Castellano (L) | Central Florida (NCAA) |
| Eric Chalus (L) | MILWAUKEE/Kent State (NCAA) |
| Brendan Hardy | Albuquerque (AAA)/ACL Rockies (Rok.) |
| Jasier Herrera | 2023 – Seibu (Japan) |
| Justin Kelly | New Hampshire (AA)/Dunedin (A) |
| Josh Leerssen | Williamsport (MLBDL)/Samford (NCAA) |
| Naswell Paulino (L) | Fargo-Moorhead |
| Kenny Pierson (L) | Lake Erie (Frontier) |
| Brady Puckett | MILWAUKEE |
| Steven Sanchez | ACL Mariners (Rok.)/Modesto (A) |
| Matt Walker (L) | MILWAUKEE/York (Atlantic) |
| Davis Welch | MILWAUKEE |
| Christian Young | Monclova (Mexican) |
| CATCHERS (2) | |
| Ronaiker Palma | Albuquerque (AAA)/Hartford (AA) |
| Andrew Sundean | MILWAUKEE/Central Florida (NCAA) |
| INFIELDERS (5) | |
| Andy Blake | MILWAUKEE |
| Griffin Doersching | 2024 – MILWAUKEE/Fort Wayne (A+) |
| Michael Hallquist | Fargo-Moorhead |
| Parker Lester | MILWAUKEE/Mercer (NCAA) |
| Delvin Perez | MILWAUKEE |
| OUTFIELDERS (4) | |
| Diego Hernandez | Northwest Arkansas (AA)/ACL Royals (Rok.) |
| Wendell Marrero | 2024 – MILWAUKEE |
| Alec Olund | MILWAUKEE/Fargo-Moorhead |
| Baron Radcliff | MILWAUKEE/Gary SouthShore |
Analysis: Milwaukee snuck into the playoffs last year, though with just a 45-55 record, that was more indicative of Cleburne’s struggles and the overall weak state of the East Division, so there’s a clear desire to right the ship after back-to-back losing seasons. The Milkmen have a league-high 30 players currently signed, including a dozen returners. They also have a league-high 17 players with American Association experience under contract.
Milwaukee has an absurd 19 pitchers signed, meaning at least 6-7 of these arms won’t make it to Opening Day for various reasons. Walker and Welch are the most notable returners, as each held down a rotation spot with lower-5 ERAs. Chalus showed glimpses in a swingman role, while Puckett fanned 63 batters in just 47.0 innings out of the bullpen. Their most notable adds are a pair of bouncebacks: four-year Milkmen veteran Christian Young and 2023 AA Pitcher of the Year Solomon Bates, both of whom were in Mexico last year and will go a long ways in rebuilding a rocky rotation.
Nine of the 11 position players signed have suited up in Milwaukee, led by Blake, who swatted 13 homers and swiped 17 bases last year. Perez had his moments (.746 OPS, 21 extra-base hits) last year and Radcliff slugged .466 in 38 games after arriving late. There’s a noticeable youth in the infield, as Lester and Hallquist (who comes over from Fargo-Moorhead both posted solid seasons as some of the youngest players in the league a year ago. I think Hallquist could be on the cusp of becoming a star and is a really good get for Milwaukee. Olund is a solid, if unspectacular veteran outfielder, though he’ll be joined by Marrero, who didn’t play last year, but had a .369 OBP atop the Milwaukee order in 2024.
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Come back tomorrow (Wednesday) as we take a look at how the West is shaping up…no foolin’ (even if tomorrow is April 1st).
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