The inaugural Baseball Champions League Americas will feature four teams representing four professional leagues. Fargo Moorehead Redhawks will represent the American Association.
In 1996, the Fargo Moorhead Redhawks brought professional baseball back to the Red River Valley after a 35-year absence. A Fargo-Moorehead team had been affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) organizations such as the Cleveland Indians, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees until the 1960s.
The Red Hawks participated in the Northern League since 1996. Since then, they have played in the Newman Outdoor Field, a 4,500-seat facility that fans know as The Nest.
After winning five league titles under legendary manager Doug Simunic, they moved to the American Association of Professional Baseball starting in 2011. The American Association is, together with the Frontier League, Atlantic League and Pioneer League, an MLB partner league. These leagues will collaborate with MLB on initiatives to provide organized baseball to communities throughout the United States and Canada while working to expand the geographic reach of the game.
The Redhawks, who won their first American Association title in 2022 under manager Chris Coste, have announced so far a 22-player roster.
The list of players to watch includes two-way veteran Correlle Prime. The Florida native has appeared in 597 Minor League Baseball (MiLB) games. In 2023 he started 16 games as a pitcher and hit 14 home runs.
Veteran catcher Chris Herrmann has appeared in 370 MLB games from 2012 to 2019 for the Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Seattle Mariners and Oakland A's.
Outfielder Dillon Thomas played 11 MLB games for the Los Angeles Angels during the 2022 season.
Outfielder Max Murphy has appeared in 384 MiLB games.
Infielder Leobaldo Pina has appeared in 455 MiLB games and has been a utility infielder in the Venezuelan Professional League over the last four seasons.
The 22 players:
PITCHERS (8) Garrett Alexander, Colten Davis, Alex DuBord, Grant Gavin, Ashton Goudeau, Tyler Grauer, Charlie Hasty, Christian Young.
CATCHERS (2) Chris Herrmann, Roy Morales
INFIELDERS (7) Manuel Boscan, Dayson Croes, Sam Dexter, Leobaldo Pina, Correlle Prime, Drew Ward, Justin Wylie
OUTFIELDERS (5) Evan Alexander, Max Murphy, Alex Olund, Connor Panas, Dillon Thomas
