AAPB Off To Rousing Start: Ten Things to Know in the American Association This Week

The Milwaukee Milkmen (5-1) and Sioux Falls Canaries (5-1) are among the teams off to hot starts as the American Association of Professional Baseball (@AA_Baseball) put the first week of the 2026 regular season in the books. All games are as always available free for live viewing on AABaseball.tv.

Here are 10 (or so) Things to Know about the AAPB this week:

• Big crowds were the norm, with Chicago, Lincoln, Kane County and Winnipeg all attracting announced crowds of 5,000 or more for their openers, topped by Kane County’s 8,093 on Friday vs. Kansas City and Chicago netting a sellout of 7,128, also on Friday.
• With a home runs in back-to-back games against Cleburne on Tuesday and Wednesday and after four homers in four wins over Cleburne in which Fargo-Moorhead scored 42 runs, the RedHawks’ José Sermo (Austin, Texas) now has 147 career AAPB homers, passing Reggie Abercrombie for second-most in league history. Sermo’s 12 RBI move him up to fourth in league career history with 512.
• Ryan Hernandez’s first-inning grand salami and three-run shot in the sixth vs. Sioux Falls on Tuesday brings his total to a franchise-leading 50 home runs with the Lake Country DockHounds.
• A look at the Opening Day rosters yielded some interesting tidbits:
  • 6’9 Milwaukee Milkmen right-handed pitcher Brady Puckett (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) is the tallest player in the AAPB. He formerly played college baseball at Lipscomb University in Nashville, getting drafted in the 15th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins. The two shortest, at 5’7, are both international players: catcher Juan Fernandez (Valencia, Venezuela) of Fargo-Moorhead and left-handed pitcher Ryo Kohigashi (Kyoto, Japan) of Winnipeg.
  • Mitchell Lambson (Montclair, Calif.), a seven-year veteran of the Winnipeg Goldeyes, is the oldest player in the league at 35, while Sioux Falls Canaries catcher, TJ Racherbaumer (Hermann, Mo.) checks in as the youngest at 22.
• Sioux City righty LJ Waco (Cary, Ill.) has been transferred to the Washington Nationals organization. He becomes the 34th player moved since Explorers Manager Steve Montgomery took over the reins of the ball club in 2014. Waco made his pro debut for the X’s on Friday.
• The Nationals were busy scooping up AAPB players, as Winnipeg RHP Noah Millikan (Berkeley, Calif.) and Chicago RHP Adam Bogosian (Brooklyn, N.Y.) were also transferred to the organization.
• The Lake Country Dockhounds will adopt the name “Wisconsin Dive Bars” for contests July 7-9, with new jerseys on the way for those dates.
• Kane County’s “Ozzie” mascot raced alongside the Northern Illinois Food Bank’s new mascot “Clementine” in the 13^th Annual Fight Hunger Run. It is said they became “fast” friends.
• The Sioux Falls Canaries played an exhibition game on May 10 in Humboldt, S.D., a fundraiser for the families of Reed Harter and Chandler Bakley, two former Dakota Wesleyan baseball players who were killed in a car accident back in January
• Media interest in AAPB remains strong. Some of the recent articles on teams include:
  • KSDK.com had this look at former Milwaukee Milkmen star Bryan Torres, who is one step away from the majors at AAA Memphis.
  • The Daily Herald previewed Kane County’s season with a piece on how many key players are returning, and they consider themselves “a big family.” The outlet gave equal time to the Chicago Dogs, noting the reuniting of twins Stan (manager) and Stu Cliburn (pitching coach) on the Dogs’ coaching staff.
  • CHVN.com touted the re-signing of Puerto Rico native Roby Enriquez for this season.
  • The Asbury Park Press selected Monarchs’ lefty Jay Groome (Barnegat, N.J.) on its all-time best Jersey Shore players list.
  • KSCJ highlighted Travis Lee’s first season as Sioux City’s General Manager.
  • Sioux Falls’ Dylan Kirkeby (Pierre, S.D.) will be inducted into the South Dakota High School Baseball Association (SDHSBA) Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
  • Royals Review let fans know they can watch Monarchs games live all year on AABaseball.tv.
  • WorldBaseball discussed the evolving relationship between the AAPB and MLB with Commissioner Joshua Schaub.
  • Dakota News Now noted that the Canaries will have a revamped roster in 2026.
  • Fox32 in Chicago says Dogs games are among their “40 Things to Do.”
• A few team promotions of note are:
  • Nebraska Game and Parks Night celebrates Nebraska’s natural resources, outdoor recreation and conservation efforts, Lincoln Saldogs, Thursday
  • Hawai’ian Jersey Giveaway, Fargo-Moorhead, Saturday
  • North Dakota Autism Center Night, Fargo-Moorhead, Sunday
  • Winnipeg Transit Appreciation Day, Sunday
  • Home Run For Education, STEM Curriculum activities, Chicago Dogs, Wednesday