The American Association opens the 2026 season tomorrow night with Cleburne and Fargo-Moorhead opening up the season down in Texas.

With that, we take a look inside all 12 teams at where they stand going into the 2026 campaign. First, we’ll look at the East Division, with the West following on Friday.

Keep in mind, I do have a day job, so a large chunk of this was written earlier in the week. At least 55 players will be cut off spring training rosters this week, plus a few last-minute signings will happen, but the goal is to be as accurate as possible.

Keep an eye out at the bottom, where I take a stab at guessing where these six teams finish.

Chicago Dogs

2025: 50-49, 2nd place, W 1R vs. Milwaukee (2-0), L East Finals vs. Kane County (3-2)

Key Returners: RHP Keoni Cavaco, RHP Jacob DeLabio (All-Star), RHP Eric Lin, C Chance Sisco (Postseason All-Star), Jaylyn Williams (All-Star)

Key Additions: Manager Stan Cliburn, OF Aaron Altherr (All-Star Game MVP), RHP Regi Crace Jr., C Jaxx Groshans (2024 Postseason All-Star), OF Gio DiGiacomo, INF Brian Fuentes, INF Tyreque Reed, INF Ethan Wilder

Key Losses: Manager Matt Passarelle, INF Henry Kusiak (AA Rookie Hitter of the Year), OF T.J. Hopkins, RHP J.C. Keys (All-Star), RHP Jack Nedrow, INF Dusty Stroup, INF Jacob Teter (All-Star, 2024 Player of the Year)

The Spin: Chicago is under new management for the third year in a row as Stan Cliburn comes over from the Atlantic League’s Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, bringing almost 2,100 wins (and 975 at the Indy ball level) to the Windy City. He retained 11 players from the 2025 squad, which just scraped over .500, good for second place in a bad division. However, none of them will be top starter Nedrow, plus former MVP Teter and the reigning Rookie of the Year Kusiak, both of whom headed to the Atlantic League.

Chicago’s most notable returner is Sisco, who hit over .300 and led the AA with 37 doubles as a catcher, earning Postseason All-Star nods. Williams came over late from Kansas City after earning a trip to the All-Star game. Cavaco posted a 4.10 ERA in 79.0 innings and seems to be the guy to head the rotation, while DeLabio struck out 61 batters with a 2.35 ERA and 11 saves last year. He’s a top-flight reliever to have back.

On the newcomer side, Cliburn brings DiGiacomo over from Southern Maryland as an outfielder power bat. Fuentes also had a solid year in the Atlantic League (16 HR, 79 RBI) and makes the move west. Altherr is an eyebrow-raising signing after popping 20 homers and earning All-Star Game MVP honors for Cleburne last year. Another former Railroader, Jaxx Groshans, returns as another catcher who can hit after spending most of ’25 in affiliated ball. Reed and Wilder both had decent, if unspectacular, 2025 seasons with Washington in the Frontier League. Grace also was a Wild Thing last year and posted a 3.61 ERA as a starter.

All-told, Chicago is looking for their sixth-straight winning season and playoff spot, all while employing their fourth manager in four years. The pitching staff is a little questionable to me, but there’s a solid nucleus there to improve a middle-of-the-pack offense enough to buoy the staff while they figure things out.

Cleburne Railroaders

2025: 43-57, 5th place

Key Returners: RHP Derek Craft (All-Star), LHP Ben Hampton

Key Additions: INF Carter Aldrete (2024 Postseason All-Star), INF Christian Almanza, RHP John Baker, INF Brantley Bell (Postseason All-Star), RHP Andrew Bellatti, INF Delino DeShields Jr., RHP Leam Mendez, INF Caleb McNeely, OF Chris Roller, OF Cody Thomas

Key Losses: OF Aaron Altherr (All-Star MVP), RHP Dakota Chalmers, OF Shed Long Jr. (All-Star), OF Jesus Lujano, INF Kyle Martin (Postseason All-Star; HR & RBI leader), RHP Kade Mechals (All-Star), INF D.J. Peterson (All-Star), RHP Kristian Scott, C Andres Sosa (All-Star)

The Spin: Good news or bad news first? Ok, here’s the bad news: the Railroaders regressed by 17 games, posted their worst season since 2018, and missed the playoffs despite playing in a terrible division. Oh, and 7 of their 8 All-Star representatives from last year are gone, including league home run champion Kyle Martin (29 HR and 90 RBI) off to play Banana Ball.

The good news? Pete Incaviglia cleared out nearly all of the worst pitching staff in the league last year and brought in a healthy number of quality bats. Indeed, only three returners are back, though ironically they’re all pitchers: All-Star starter Craft, then Hampton and Aaron Mishoulam, who both were solid in limited bullpen action.

Coming in, Aldrete is back to the scene of his huge 2024 season (.341, 21 HR, 20 SB) after splitting ’25 between Double-A and the Atlantic League. Bell was a postseason All-Star between Chicago and Kansas City and is big pick-up within the league, while McNeely, Roller, and Thomas all were regulars on quality Atlantic League clubs last year, while DeShields returns to Cleburne after two years away. Almanza comes to town after being one of the top Pioneer League sluggers last year. The pitching staff is shaping up to be questionable (again), though Baker has had a fair amount of success in Chicago, Bellatti has enjoyed big-league bullpen success, Knarr has had a really nice affiliated season under his belt, and Mendez was a solid arm in Kansas City last year.

Like usual, Cleburne is probably going to have to mash their way to the postseason, though this lineup looks plenty good enough to do it. Then again, last year the Railroaders scored the second-most runs in the AA last season and lost the third-most games. Well, at least the pitching strategy wasn’t just run it back with the same guys and hope it goes better…

Gary SouthShore RailCats

2025: 38-62, 6th place

Key Returners: RHP Nate Alexander, OF LG Castillo, RHP Jacob Coats (All-Star), LHP Dawson Lane, RHP Peyton Long, RHP Deyni Olivero, INF Elvis Peralta (All-Star), INF Joe Suozzi, INF Cooper Weiss

Key Additions: RHP J.C. Flowers, OF Korry Howell, OF Scout Knotts, C Justin O’Connor, INF Nick Podkul, OF Kevin Watson

Key Losses: RHP Spencer Adams, RHP Andres Diaz, RHP DeMarcus Evans

The Spin: New skipper Jeff Isom took over a 19-44 team last July and finished 19-18 with the group he inherited, so he liked them enough to keep 15 returners around, second-most in the league. A bold move from the league’s worst team the last two seasons, but the upside is virtually no offensive player worth keeping was cast aside (though a few who maybe should’ve been shipped out are still around), and a promising core is coming back. While not technically a loss, as he was traded away in August, All-Star outfielder Jairus Richards stayed with Fargo-Moorhead, which is a tough loss that would’ve been a great piece to keep around.

Alexander, Coats, and Lane are a very nice start to a back end of the bullpen, while Long and Olivero both had sub-4.00 ERAs in full-time starting roles last year and are a legitimate 1-2 to front the rotation. Peralta is a legitimate star after hitting .314 with 31 steals last season, and Suozzi and Weiss are ideal on-base merchants to have with him in the infield for a full season. Castillo is the headliner in the outfield, returning for his fifth season in Gary, but the last two years have just…not been good. Maybe some more help around him leads to better results?

Coming in, Howell and Knotts will look to supplement Castillo in the outfielder, with Knotts enjoying some Frontier League success (also in a lakefront ballpark that’s tough to hit in) and Howell looking for a fresh start after washing out of Cleburne last year, though I thought he’d have much more success in the AA. Maybe it comes this year. O’Connor and Watson are both established Indy ball producers, with Watson a legitimate All-Star talent. Podkul is a local product who’s had enough affiliated success to make me think he’ll do very well there. Flowers brings Triple-A pedigree to the bullpen. On the other side, Adams and Diaz both were durable starters last year and move on, while Evans had a good year in relief, but also is gone.

This isn’t a sexy team by any means, but as outlined earlier this month, it’s a better one than the last two years. The offense could maybe use another bat or two, but this lineup has less deadweight than we’ve seen in awhile. The biggest problem I see is that I don’t know who the RailCats start after Long and Olivero. Gary SouthShore has never won without strong pitching, so whether or not they can make a big push towards playoff contention may very well hinge directly on if they can consistently fill the rotation. But they’re moving in the right direction either way.

Kane County Cougars

2025: 49-51, W 1R vs. Lake Country (2-0), W East Finals vs. Chicago (2-1), W Miles Wolff Cup Finals vs. Sioux Falls (3-2)

Key Returners: INF Josh Allen, RHP Konnor Ash (All-Star), INF Claudio Finol (Finals MVP), RHP Jake Gozzo (All-Star), INF Todd Lott (All-Star), LHP Jordan Martinson, OF Alex McGarry, RHP Logan Nissen, INF Zane Spinn, RHP Vin Timpanelli, OF Armond Upshaw (All-Star)

Key Additions: OF Matt Botcher, INF Sam Dexter, RHP Brandon Komar, OF Dave Matthews, OF Spencer Rich

Key Losses: INF Marcus Chiu (All-Star), OF Trendon Craig (All-Star), LHP Casey Crosby, RHP Jack Fox, RHP Chris Mazza, OF Blake Rutherford

The Spin: Kane County is undoubtedly in a weird spot. They are back-to-back defending Miles Wolff Cup champions…but went 49-51 last year. So you don’t want to blow it up, but you also probably need to improve this year. George Tsamis nonetheless didn’t choose to blow it up, bringing back 14 players, most of whom were key contributors to the ’25 title.

Ash, Gozzo, Lott, and Upshaw are four All-Stars coming back, while future AA Hall-of Famer Allen returns as well, with Martinson, Nissen, and Zach Veen all back to anchor another solid bullpen. McGarry and Spinn get full seasons after coming in midseason last year.

Kane County didn’t do a lot in the free agent market, adding accomplished Indy ball bat Botcher, while bringing the rock-solid Dexter back to the AA after a year in the Atlantic League. Komar is a Triple-A arm who will slide right into the rotation, while Matthew and Rich are notable, but mainly because they’re both Pioneer League stalwarts trying to make the next step in an outfield that needs help. Those two will be counted on to replace All-Stars Craig and Chiu in the lineup, while veterans Crosby, Fox, and Mazza will be missed on the mound. Rutherford only played eight regular-season games for the Cougars, but will forever be appreciated for his Game 4 game-tying ninth-inning home run in the Finals last year that saved the season.

I’m not sure what Kane County brought in fully makes up for the smaller, but impactful group that departed this winter. The outfield seems primed to have a gaping hole to start the season and the rotation still looks to be one man short. Typically, Kane County has a strong pitching staff and has to figure it out offensively, though just in terms of spots filled, I think they’re a little closer on offense despite the outfield conundrum, especially with Dexter and Spinn giving the Cougars five infielders who can swing the bat, something they haven’t had the last few years. However it shakes out, I’m confident they’ll make it into the playoffs and scare the hell out of whoever is front of them.

Lake Country DockHounds

2025: 55-45, 1st place, L 1R to Kane County (2-0)

Key Returners: RHP Dominic Cancellieri, RHP Connor Fenlong, RHP Luke Hansel (All-Star), INF Ryan Hernandez (2024 Rookie Hitter of the Year), RHP Chris Jefferson, RHP Beau Philip, RHP Kelvan Pilot, RHP Trey Riley, OF Ray Zuberer III

Key Additions: OF Connor Bagnieski, RHP Alan Zhang Carter, OF Dom Johnson, OF Joshua Mears, C Michael Quinones, INF Ripken Reyes, RHP Sebastian Rodriguez (2024 Rookie Pitcher of the Year), LHP Brady Rodning, INF Peter Zimmerman

Key Losses: RHP Gabriel Aguilera, RHP Bryce Bonnin, RHP Brett Conine, RHP Robert Gsellmen, INF Aaron Hill, RHP Jacob Nix, C Brian O’Keefe, OF Brian Rey (All-Star), C Luke Roskam, INF Daunte Stuart (All-Star), LHP Eric Torres

The Spin: Lake Country has played four seasons and has been better each year, culminating in 55 wins and the club’s first division title last year. They went two-and-out in the playoffs and will now look to keep the upward trajectory. Ken Huckaby got off to a really nice start to the postseason, but things seemed to slow down a little bit early. Ten returners are back for the Hounds.

Hansel is back for a third year at the front of the rotation and he has plenty of help with Cancelleri, Jefferson, and Pilot returning. Fenlong, Philip, and Riley also return to fortify the bullpen, while slugger Hernandez and Zuberer are also back, though both come back off down seasons.

The pitching staff is further fortified by bringing in former Rookie of the Year Rodriguez, though he went on the inactive list this week, casting doubt on his timeline. Carter is back after a year away, looking to pick up where he left off after an exceptional 2024 (0.72 ERA, 61 K in 37.2 innings). Most of the offense needs to be remade, with Johnson coming in after a .340 campaign in the Frontier League, Bagnieski looking to make the jump from the Pioneer League, and veteran affiliated bats Mears and Reyes looking to make impacts. Zimmerman and Quinones come in after finding success with other AA teams (Sioux Falls and Sioux City, respectively) in 2025.

A lot of key faces leave town, including All-Stars Rey and Stuart, several strong arms in Bonnin, Conine, Gsellman, Nix, and an outstanding closer in Torres. Veterans O’Keefe and Hill also are gone this season, further leaving holes in the lineup.

Lake Country appears to have more of their rotation set than several teams, which should help them in the early going as other teams are sorting out their arms. However, their offense has so much turnover that is make take time to see how those pieces fit together. Despite that turnover and the slower finish to the winter, I think the Hounds are more than capable of repeating atop the division.

Milwaukee Milkmen

2025: 45-55, 4th, L 1R vs. Chicago (2-0)

Key Returners: INF Andy Blake, LHP Juan Diaz (All-Star), INF Parker Lester, LHP Jordany Mezquita, OF Alec Olund, INF Delvin Perez, RHP Brady Puckett, OF Baron Radcliff, LHP Matt Walker, RHP Davis Welch

Key Additions: RHP Solomon Bates, RHP Edinson Batista, RHP Ryan Boyer, INF Michael Hallquist, OF Wendell Marrero, LHP Kenny Pierson, RHP Christian Young

Key Losses: RHP Denny Bentley (All-Star), INF Chase Estep, RHP Matt Givin, Scott Ota

The Spin: Milwaukee achieved the dubious distinction last year of being the worst playoff team in American Association history, finishing ten games under .500, but sneaking into the fourth spot thanks to Cleburne’s disappointing year. Obviously, the Milkmen know that improvement is needed and look to supplement their 14 returners with a new cast.

Blake (13 HR, 17 steals) returns in the infield, alongside Lester, who was excellent in his first taste of pro ball late last season and Perez, who was solid as well. Olund and Radcliff arrived later in the year and put up solid numbers in the outfield, while All-Star southpaw Diaz is back in the rotation alongside Mezquita. Walker and Welch also were rotation pieces last year, but have stiff competition and may end up in the bullpen with Puckett, who fanned 63 batters in 47.0 innings last year.

The Milkmen stocked up on rotation arms, going to Mexico to find 2023 Pitcher of the Year Bates and former four-year Milwaukee regular Young to bring back to the AA. Batista will also be in the rotation mix, while Indy ball veteran Pierson fights for a bullpen role alongside first time Indy ball arm Boyer, who has had success in affiliated ball. Hallquist is a potential breakout player acquired from Fargo-Moorhead last winter to ply shortstop, while Marrero is back in Milwaukee after a solid 2024, but he sat out last summer. Moving out, most of the Milkmen’s big-ticket acquisitions (Micker Adolfo, Jaylin Davis, Jefry Marte) disappointed and were shipped out early, while Erik Ostberg was traded late in the year, so they are not listed as offseason departures. Bentley was an All-Star closer, though, Givin was sharp in relief, and Estep and Ota were arguably Milwaukee’s top bats next to Ostberg, so they are big losses.

I’m not sure how I feel about the Milkmen offense, which even with Estep, Ota, and Ostberg was middle of the pack at best last year. I’m not convinced it’s any better. The pitching staff, though, was a mess last year, allowing the third-most runs, and the rotation in particular is in substantially better shape to start the season, which may be enough to lift the Milkmen back over .500, even if Bentley is not around to hold leads late.

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Picking the Pecking Order

1. Lake Country
2. Chicago
3. Kane County
4. Cleburne
5. Gary SouthShore
6. Milwaukee

Spin it: When I started ranking these teams, I was quick to put Lake Country back up to repeat…and then I had no clue from there. Picking the same 1-2-3 that ended last year is boring, but I didn’t see a good reason to move that group out of those spots. Cleburne’s offense should be great, but even if their pitching is awful (as usual), I think it’ll be enough to squeeze into the #4 spot. Gary SouthShore still has a gap to cover to get to the playoffs and I think they get close, but not quite there. I didn’t think I’d settle on Milwaukee in last, but I got there for three reasons:

1. Someone has to finish last
2. I think their offense will take a big enough step back that their pitching can’t overcome
3. They already were just 45-55 last year. I think they slide down more due to Gary and Cleburne being better rather than Milwaukee being significantly worse

Come back tomorrow (Friday) as we dive in to how the West Division teams are built to start the season. Happy Opening Day!

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