Sports Media Report
The Baseball Champions League (BCL) Americas gets underway today at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú in Mexico City, with a team made up mostly of players from the American Association of Professional Baseball (@AA_Baseball) reigning champion Kane County Cougars representing the league in the six-team international competition.
Here are 10 (or so) Things to Know about the BCL and AAPB this week:
- Hosted by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) in conjunction with the Mexican Baseball League (LMB), the 2025 BCL Americas features the Cougars and five other champion clubs:
- Leñadores de Las Tunas (Cuba) – Serie Nacional Champions
- Pirates de Santa Maria (Curaçao) – Curaçao Baseball League Champions
- Tigres de Chinandega (Nicaragua) – Liga de Béisbol Profesional Nacional
- Titanes de Florida (Puerto Rico) – Liga de Béisbol Superior Doble A
- Diablos Rojos del México (Mexico) – Mexican Baseball League (LMB) Champions and tournament hosts
- These teams are divided into two groups:
- Group A: Diablos Rojos del México, Tigres de Chinandega, Titanes de Florida
- Group B: Kane County Cougars, Leñadores de Las Tunas, Pirates de Santa Maria
- Play begins today in the Round Robin portion of the contest, with the Cougars taking on Santa Maria at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT). Vin Timpanelli (Staten Island, N.Y. / Ramapo (N.J.) College; 1-2. 2.70 for Kane County last year) gets the starting assignment on the mound
- Some of the notable players on other teams competing in the event include:
- Aristides Aquino, Diablos Rojos del México
- Robinson Canó, Diablos Rojos del México
- Francisco Mejía, Diablos Rojos del México
- Jose Pirela, Diablos Rojos del México
- Jonathan Schoop, Santa María Pirates
- Andrelton Simmons, Santa María Pirates
- The format includes two group-stage games for each team (today through Thursday), followed by crossover games between second- and third-place finishers (Friday). Winners from those matchups advance to the semifinals (Saturday), and the championship game will take place on Sunday at 4 p.m ET / 3 p.m. CT.
- Kane County also plays on Thursday vs. Leñadores (4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT) before QF/Semifinal matchups the next two days.
- All BCL games involving the Cougars are available for free live viewing at aabaseball.tv, as well as broadcast partners Fubo, Unbeaten, Ryz Sports Network and Gray TV.
- There are several companies that are helping support the American Association and its players in participating in the Baseball Champions League:
- Carbliss – Carbliss is a Wisconsin-based company offering premium, ready-to-drink, handcrafted cocktails that are zero carbs, zero sugar, gluten-free, and only 100 calories per serving
- CAPX – CapX Lab is a headwear innovation company offering a range of customizable hats designed with intention
- Champro – Champro is a sporting goods manufacturer founded in 1986, providing high-quality sports apparel, uniforms, equipment, and accessories for youth, women, and men across various sports
- VensureHR – Vensure is a leading provider of human resources services and technology, offering comprehensive solutions including payroll processing, employee benefits, risk management, and compliance assistance to small and mid-sized businesses
- In the inaugural 2023 edition of the BCL, the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks captured the international baseball world’s attention by storming through the field in Mérida, Mexico, and claiming the first-ever title
- The AAPB season gets underway on Thursday, May 8, when Kane County hosts Sioux City and Cleburne entertains Winnipeg.
- The original American Association was formed in 1902 as an independent minor league circuit for Midwestern U.S. cities like Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Louisville and others. After several iterations, the realignment of Major League Baseball in 1997 spelled the end of the venerable league in that form. But in 2006, a new league formed using that great name, the result of a merger between two other “independent” leagues. Today, the AAPB is 12 teams strong and is a Major League Baseball Partner League operating in nine states and one Canadian province.
