Plesac, Martinez Acquisitions Boost Gary SouthShore, Goldeyes Third to String Together Double Digit Wins, Highlighting Week for the MLB Partner League
MOORHEAD, Minn., August 6, 2026 鈥� A pair of former big leaguers now calling Gary SouthShore home and the third double-digit win streak by an 扣扣传媒 (AAPB) team this season (this time, Winnipeg) highlight happenings around the league this week. As the circuit enters the 30-games-remaining stretch, AAPB broadcasts are, as always, available free for live viewing on AABaseball.tv.听
Here are 10 (or so) Things to Know about the AAPB this week:
- Two weeks ago, the Winnipeg Goldeyes were, pardon the pun, floundering a few games under .500. But an (improbably, the third double-digit string by an AAPB club this season!) has them solidly in playoff position. The skein matches the longest in team history, set in 2014.
- Superstud Jos茅 Sermo continued his assault on AAPB pitchers in July, blasting 11 home runs, driving in 36 runs and posting a 1.516 POS to earn . Milwaukee鈥檚 Jhordany Mezquita won three games, pitching to a 1.88 ERA and fanning 24 to take honors.
- Gary SouthShore dipped into the former MLB player pool for the stretch run, with two key acquisitions this week:
- Six-year big leaguer Zach Plesac, who won 27 games with Cleveland and the Los Angeles Angels from 2019-2024, , tossing two perfect innings and whiffing two.
- They also . Martinez played in 34 games in the Bigs in 2010 and 2011, and slashed .291/.367/.381 in 93 games for the X鈥檚 in 2024, his last AAPB action.
- Stolen bases are a big weapon in the AAPB, and the Sioux City Explorers are at the forefront of the thievery. CF Austin Davis in his club’s 8-7 loss to Fargo-Moorhead Sunday. Davis now has 58 SB in 2026; the league record is 71 (Bryan Torres, Milwaukee, 2023). The X鈥檚, after six more bags last night, are up to 217 steals this season, also within striking distance of the league record of 275 that they set last year.
- We previewed it here last week, and , assisting those affected by recent tornadoes in Wisconsin by leading a relief drive at Franklin Field last Thursday.
- Thursday鈥檚 Cancer Awareness Night in Sioux Falls , as the cause hits closer to home. Ryan Richardson, who pitched in 47 games for the club last year after four years with Kane County, was diagnosed with the disease in spring training 2026. Fans can , with 100% of the proceeds going directly to Ryan.
- The Canaries will also on Saturday from 11 a.m. 鈥� 1 p.m. Kids 11-14 receive two hours of professional instruction from their favorite Sioux Falls Canaries players, making it the perfect opportunity to sharpen their skills, have fun, and create lasting memories at the Birdcage.
- With about 30 games left in the AAPB season, the home run and RBI races are two-man affairs, and it . Joshua Mears of Lake Country (25 HR, 72 RBI) and Jos茅 Sermo of Fargo-Moorhead (24 HR, 73 RBI)聽 battle it out in those two categories, while Mears鈥檚 .340 batting average puts him narrowly atop the league, keeping the triple crown alive for the DockHounds鈥� outfielder.
- Righthander Kevin Herget, who pitched for Fargo-Moorhead in 2021 and has pitched in parts of five seasons in the Majors, returned to MLB with the Mets, . He’s the 15th AAPB alum to play in a big-league game in 2026. He was subsequently returned to AAA Syracuse but remains in the mix for the team this season.
- Former Sioux Falls Canaries broadcaster J.P. Shadrick is the , the team announced on Tuesday. Shadrick was the Canaries鈥� lead broadcaster and primary baseball information contact in 2005.
- Media interest in AAPB remains strong. Some of the recent articles on teams include:
- The Winnipeg Free Press notes that Goldeyes pitcher .鈥�
- The Free Press also featured Goldeyes that has transformed a corner of the clubhouse into a makeshift barber shop.
- WSPYNews.com on Tuesday. Roberts started game two of the doubleheader with Winnipeg, allowing two earned runs over 4 1/3 innings.
- Canaries entertainer including bobblehead giveaways and the team鈥檚 final Kids Camp of the year.
- KTIV Ch. 4 in Sioux City in helping the X鈥檚 become the first AAPB franchise to 1,000 wins.
- A few team promotions of note are:聽
- Friday鈥檚 鈥淗appy Gilmore Night鈥� in Sioux Falls celebrates the 30th anniversary (!) year of the golf-themed classic film.
- Fargo-Moorhead hosts Minnesota State Moorhead Night at the Redhawks on Tuesday at Newman Outdoor Field, fortifying its partnership with the local Dragons, a member of NCAA Division II.
- Thursday is 鈥淭hrowback Night鈥� in Kane County, with the first 1500 fans pulling a throwback jersey courtesy of Country Financial and appearance by 11-year big leaguer Scott Podsednik.
- Winnipeg will also wear throwback Goldeyes jerseys on Thursday.
- Gary SouthShore and Winnipeg will host Sensory Awareness games on Sunday and Wednesday, respectively. Each event features a sensory-friendly, inclusive environment, specialty team jerseys up for auction, and community resource vendors.
- In that spirit, The Arc of Lincoln in partnership with The Autism Family Network is offering free tickets to the Saltdogs game on Friday at Haymarket Park. Tickets are FREE for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and their families.
- Friday is Kansas Swiftie Monarchs Night, with in-game Eras parade, friendship bracelet exchange and more, which Monarchs backers and fans of a certain pop start know 鈥渁ll too well.鈥�
About the American Association
The 扣扣传媒 () and () is a Major League Baseball Partner League that operates in nine states and one Canadian province.听 Formed in 2006, the league consists of twelve member clubs with many beginning play in 1993.听 Through the 2025 season, 483 player contracts have been transferred to MLB organizations.听 In addition, 60 AAPB alumni have reached the Majors, including 17 participating in 2025.
– AAPB –
Contact:
Joe Favorito, joefavorito2@gmail.com, 917-566-8345
Jerry Milani, jerry@jerrymilani.com, 917-797-5663