So far in 2026, a total of 26 players signed to American Association teams have had their contracts purchased by an MLB organization, the most for the league in any season since 2021.

That also includes 10 contracts that were sold between January 1 and Opening Day, including three players quickly released and returned to the AA: Lake Country’s Jack Blomgren and Trey Dillard, and Winnipeg’s James Colyer. Additionally, only two from that group (Dillard and fellow former DockHound J.T. Benson) actually played in the Association.

With that said, we’ll take a look at the 17 AA alums sold to MLB teams this year (all 16 post-Opening Day signees plus Benson) and see how they are faring in their crack at affiliated ball.

J.T. Benson – Lake Country to NY Mets (March 11)

The one preseason signing on this list, Benson began his professional career with a solid .286/.385/.418 showing in 27 games for Lake Country in 2024. After slashing .295/.412/.477 in 80 games with Evansville in the Frontier League last season, he was set to return to the DockHounds this season before the Mets came calling three weeks before his 24th birthday.

His first crack in an MLB organization has gone well: a .264/.352/.520 line with 22 doubles, 7 triples, 11 home runs, and 50 RBI between Single-A St. Lucie and High-A Brooklyn, having been promoted on May 18. He’s been productive in both spots, with a .939 OPS in St. Lucie and a solid .822 mark in Brooklyn. He even spun a scoreless inning with two strikeouts in St. Lucie in his professional pitching debut. All-in-all, a really nice season.

Adam Bogosian – Chicago to Washington (May 20)

The Washington Nationals splurged for three American Association pitchers on May 20, with Bogosian getting the call after allowing one run in 2.1 innings with three strikeouts out of the bullpen in his Chicago Dogs debut. He pitched for Oakland in the Pioneer League in 2025 in his first professional season.

Since moving on to the Nationals, Bogosian has had an up-and-down season which started in the Florida Complex League and has included two promotions to Single-A Fredericksburg and one demotion back to the FCL. Between both stops, he’s 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in 12 outings, all but two in relief. He has punched out 15 batters and walked eight in 18.0 innings.

Noah Millikan – Winnipeg to Washington (May 20)

Also part of Washington’s shopping spree, Millikan probably should’ve been the Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year last year after posting a sparkling 2.12 ERA in 85.0 innings teaming up with Bogosian in Oakland. Signed by Winnipeg for 2026, he threw 5.0 shutout innings in his Goldeyes debut before the Washington Nationals came calling.

The Nats have been rather careful with him, leaving the 23-year-old in the Florida Complex League all summer, but he’s been sharp, going 4-2 with a 2.23 ERA and 41 strikeouts in just 32.1 innings, along with a strong 1.113 WHIP. With the Complex League campaigns over, Millikan finally earned a promotion to Single-A Fredericksburg on Tuesday.

L.J. Waco – Sioux City to Washington (May 20)

Unofficial All-Name Team member LJ Waco wasn’t long for Sioux City, throwing just 1.1 innings over two relief outings before the Nationals scooped him up. His stint in Sioux City was the first stop as a professional for him.

He threw well in the Complex League, striking out 11 and walking just two over 9.0 innings, posting a 3.00 ERA and locking down three saves in his eight outings before being promoted to Single-A Fredericksburg on June 24. That hasn’t gone well, as he’s logged a 10.80 ERA and walked 12 batters in just 10.0 innings, though he also has 17 strikeouts.

Bryce Schaum – Chicago to Milwaukee (May 23)

Schaum became the second Chicago Dog to get scooped up in four days, getting the call despite posting a 5.81 ERA in 41.1 innings for the Dogs in his debut season in 2025 and allowing three runs in 3.1 innings in his ’26 debut.

After a scoreless one-inning appearance in the Arizona Complex League, he was promoted to Single-A Wilson on June 9. There he has logged a 7.56 ERA in 8.1 innings over nine outings, with nine walks against just three strikeouts

Jake Dykhoff – Fargo-Moorhead to Baltimore (May 24)

The most accomplished American Association player to be signed this year, reigning Pitcher of the Year Dykhoff was beginning his fourth season in Fargo-Moorhead, striking out 11 in 6.0 innings of three-hit ball in his season debut. That was enough for Baltimore to see, and Dykhoff was whisked away after posting a 2.97 ERA in 227.1 career innings as a RedHawk.

Despite being 27 years old, for some reason the Orioles have stuck him in the Florida Complex League all summer in his first affiliated action. He aced that test going 4-0 with a 1.82 ERA in 34.2 innings over seven outings, striking out 30 and walking just eight, with a sparkling 0.87 WHIP. He finally got the call to Single-A Delmarva on Tuesday.

Eric Lin – Chicago to Tampa Bay (May 26)

The third Chicago pitcher to be picked up in the season’s first two weeks, Lin posted an impressive 2.51 ERA in 28.2 innings out of the bullpen for the Dogs in his first pro campaign in 2025. Moving to the rotation this year, he allowed four runs in 11.0 innings and struck out 17 against just three walk before Tampa Bay picked him up.

His time with the Rays was promising: seven punchouts over 4.2 scoreless innings in the Florida Complex League earned him a June 10 promotion to Single-A Charleston. He was continuing to pitch well, allowing just one run on two hits in 4.2 innings (over three outings) with seven strikeouts, but just two weeks later he went down for the season, being placed on the Injured List on June 24 and subsequently transferred to the full-season IL.

Beau Philip – Lake Country to Toronto (June 2)

Philip was originally a second-round pick of the Atlanta Braves as an infielder in 2019, but he just never hit, slashing just .202/.306/.309 in four seasons while never surpassing Double-A. He moved to the mound in 2024, but the Braves released him that winter and he landed in Lake Country in ’25, posting a 3.29 ERA in 27.1 innings of relief. 2026 started well, striking out eight with no walks over 5.0 innings of two-run ball spanning five outings.

After inking the 27-year-old, Toronto sent him to Double-A New Hampshire and he’s acclimated just fine, posting a 3.52 ERA in 14 outings in relief, striking out 12 and walking five over 15.1 innings. Philip was promoted to Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.

Julio Carreras – Lake Country to Cincinnati (June 5)

Carreras was an experienced professional, playing seven seasons in the Colorado Rockies organization and reaching Triple-A in three separate seasons, though he struggled at higher levels and the Rockies let him walk after 2025. Signing with Lake Country, he slashed .338/.412/.581 with seven doubles, three homers, 15 RBI, and six steals in 18 games before the Reds gave him another shot.

Initially sent to Double-A Chattanooga, he was perfectly adequate, slashing .267/.343/.433 with a pair of home runs in 19 games. Nonetheless, he was demoted to High-A Dayton on June 29, where he’s slashed .282/.374/.500 in 20 games, all told slashing .275/.360/.471 with 12 doubles, five homers, 23 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 39 games in the Reds organization.

Steffon Moore – Kansas City to Cincinnati (June 5)

Maybe one of the most surprising pickups, Moore hasn’t pitched in affiliated ball since being released by Tampa Bay after three mostly-difficult seasons in 2021. He pitched for Lincoln in 2022-23 and also in the Atlantic League before returning to the AA with Kansas City in 2025. He was lights-out for the Monarchs, with a 1.61 ERA and 34 strikeouts in just 22.1 innings out the bullpen last year, then 15 K’s over 8.2 scoreless innings over six outings this season.

The 29-year-old was scooped by the Reds and sent to Double-A Chattanooga, where his command has wobbled (12 walks in 13.1 innings), but he’s logged a 3.38 ERA with 19 strikeouts over his 10 outings.

Luke Hansel – Lake Country to Colorado (June 14)

Hansel had a rocky 2024 for Lake Country in his pro debut, but was excellent last season, going 9-5 with a 3.48 ERA and striking out 99 batters in 116.1 innings. Entering ’26 as the DockHounds undisputed ace, he posted a 2.76 ERA in 29.1 innings over five strong starts before the Rockies came calling for the 24-year-old.

Going to the hitter-friendly California League (and to the bullpen for the first time ever), Hansel has held his own, posting a 4.87 ERA in 20.1 innings, but striking out 19 batters and issuing just two walks in his first affiliated action. He also turned 25 years old last weekend.

Ben DeTaeye – Sioux City to Texas (June 15)

DeTaeye joined Sioux City midseason in 2025 and was absolutely terrifying from the start, posting a sparkling 1.45 ERA in 31.0 innings out of the bullpen a year ago. Returning to the X’s he cut his walk rate nearly in half and posted a 0.90 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 20.0 innings. A 1.24 ERA over 51.0 career innings in Sioux City was enough for the Texas Rangers to give him his first affiliated shot.

Unfortunately it hasn’t gone the best for him. After starting at High-A Hub City (Spartanburg, SC), he’s ping-ponged back-and-forth between there and Low-A Hickory, having been demoted four times and promoted back three times (luckily the two clubs are just 90 minutes apart). Most of his action has been at High-A, but he’s been battered to the tune of a 11.12 ERA in 11.1 inning, striking out 14 batters, but also walking 13 over seven outings.

Connor Fenlong – Lake Country to Detroit (June 24)

Originally signed by the Kansas City Royals as an undrafted free agent in 2023, he had a solid 2024 over two levels but was curiously cut that winter. Landing in Lake Country in 2025, Fenlong was dominant, posting a 2.15 ERA over 58.2 innings in a swingman/bulk-relief role. Transitioning to a full-time starter in ’26, he wasn’t as lights-out, posting a 4.76 ERA in six starts, but with 35 strikeouts and just eight walks in 34.0 innings before the Tigers swooped in.

The 26-year-old was excellent in just over a month at Low-A Lakeland, striking out 23 and logging a 1.56 ER over 17.1 innings before being promoted to High-A West Michigan on July 24. He allowed just one hit over 5.0 innings and earned the win in his Whitecaps debut on Sunday.

Marcus Smith – Kansas City to Cincinnati (June 27)

Originally a third-round pick of the Oakland A’s in 2019, Smith spent most of his early affiliated days in the Texas Rangers organization, but just never hit, hitting just .196 in 347 games before he finally was cut loose after 2025. Signing with his hometown Monarchs, Smith slashed .306/.409/.552 with seven homers, 26 RBI, and 10 steals in 33 games before the Reds gave him another shot.

The offense struggles have somewhat returned, as at High-A Dayton, he’s slashed .239/.304/.437 and has struck out in a third of his plate appearances, but when he’s made contact, he’s slugged four homers and driven home 14 runs in 19 games.

Michael Hallquist – Milwaukee to Chicago Cubs (June 30)

After two solid partial seasons in Fargo-Moorhead in 2024-25, I ticketed Hallquist for a breakout year in Milwaukee this season and he had it, slashing .312/.399/.605 with 11 homes, 27 RBI, and 15 steals in 40 games before the Cubs signed the 24-year-old to his first affiliated contract.

He hasn’t been quite as excellent at Single-A South Bend, where he’s hitting just .224. However, he’s boosted that with a .356 OBP and .466 slugging, logging six doubles, two homers, 11 RBI, and six steals over 19 games and posting a respectable .822 OPS.

Grant Gambrell – KC Monarchs to KC Royals (July 3)

Originally drafted in the third round by the Royals in 2019, Gambrell was traded to Boston in 2021 and stayed in the Red Sox organization until being released after 2024, reaching as high as Triple-A. After splitting 2025 between the Monarchs and two Mexican League stops, Gambrell returned to Kansas City in mid-June this season and won all three starts, with a 2.12 ERA and 14 strikeouts against just two walks in 17.0 innings.

Returning to the Royals organization, the 28-year-old has been tagged for 11 earned runs in 8.2 innings over three outings for Double-A Northwest Arkansas, striking out five batters.

Durbin Feltman – Kansas City to St. Louis (July 8)

A third-round pick by Boston in 2018 draft, Feltman reached Triple-A in two separate seasons, but was inconsistent in 2022-23 and found himself out of baseball in 2024 and struggled in the Atlantic League in 2025. In Kansas City, though, he found himself again, posting a 2.08 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 13.0 innings, nailing down five saves before being picked up.

The Cardinals sent the 29-year-old to Triple-A Memphis, where so far he’s tallied a 6.23 ERA over four outings, though he’s struck out seven batters over 4.1 innings.