Near Season Midpoint, Upcoming All-Star Game Festivities Highlight Week for the MLB Partner League
MOORHEAD, Minn., July 9, 2026 鈥� Fans selected the final two additions to next week鈥檚 扣扣传媒 (@AA_Baseball) All-Star Game, with the 鈥淟ast Men In鈥� picks of Connor Bagnieski, outfielder for the Lincoln Saltdogs, and Ethan Wilder, infielder for the Chicago Dogs. All AAPB games are as always available .
Here are 10 (or so) Things to Know about the AAPB this week:
- The full rosters are now set for the . The game will be broadcasted LIVE on MLB Network as well as the Unbeaten Channel and AABaseball.tv., beginning at 8:30 p.m.. ET/7:30 p.m. CT.
- The game is the culmination of a and all things baseball, which includes:
- Tuesday, 9-11 a.m. CT: , for kids ages 6-14 (free Tshirt and GA ticket to the All-Star Game), limited to 50 participants (Registration is full)
- Tuesday, 5 p.m.: AAPB Hall of Fame Banquet & Social
- Wednesday, 5 p.m., Home Run Derby sponsored by Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company
- Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., All-Star Game presented by Carbliss
- Wednesday, 10:30 p.m., Post-Game Fireworks presented by Pepsi Cola of Lincoln and Bubbl鈥檙
- Mike Hallquist, who slashed .312/.339/.605 for the Milkmen in 39 games to start the season, of the Midwest League.
- Lake Country , wrapping up a three-game run in the specialty jerseys featuring the names of 150 local bars from across the state.
- It was a short stint for Grant Gambrell in his second season with the Monarchs and now he returns to the team that drafted him as the on Thursday.
- Fargo-Moorhead slugger Jos茅 Sermo and Lake Country鈥檚 Joshua Mears , with Sermo鈥檚 grand slam last night and two-run shot on Tuesday against Sioux City and Mears鈥� two-homer effort on Wednesday vs. Kane County evening the race. Mears has a one-RBI edge over his F-M counterpart, 47-46.
- Sermo now has 158 career American Association home runs, trailing Sioux City鈥檚 Jabari Henry, the all-time leader with 166.
- Bobblehead collectors will love the Sioux Falls Canaries鈥� new offerings, like the bespectacled 鈥淗arry Canary,鈥� frozen pole licking 鈥淭riple Dog Dare You鈥� and 鈥淧rison Mike,鈥� among others, in an online-only sale through July 23 at .
- The Kansas City Monarchs and Kansas Speedway Hollywood Casino have in which fans can win a Top Gun Night experience on Friday at Legends Field.
- Kyle Lindquist last appeared in a professional game in 2013, when he came out of the Gary SouthShore Railcats pen 32 times to a 2.17 ERA. This week he as defensive coordinator and infield coach.
- Media interest in AAPB remains strong. Some of the recent articles on teams include:
- Numerous outlets including the , and noted the first pitching appearance of former Milkmen standout Bryan Torres, who has four home runs in his 鈥渄ay job鈥� as Cardinals utilityman. Torres tossed two scoreless, hitless innings of relief in a bullpen-saving effort.
- The Crescent-News Art Warren and Zach Willeman.
- The Argus Leader is year after year.
- Blue Jays Nation (鈥�24-25) to the Toronto organization.聽
- WISN-TV was on hand as the .
- Stadium and Arena Event Visits game.
- The Denver Post , which included a standout run with the Monarchs in 鈥�24 and 鈥�25. He has recorded a 1.93 ERA in six games in the Big Leagues this year.
- KIBZ 104.1 The Blaze was a to the All-Star Game.
- KSCJ in Sioux City noted the to the AAPB Hall of Fame.
- Meanwhile, KFOR was in its piece.
- A few team promotions of note are:
- Hallmark Channel isn鈥檛 the only purveyor of Christmas fare in July鈥� the Kane County Cougars are on board for some 鈥淗o-Ho-Ho鈥� on Saturday, with the first 1,500 fans receiving a Bumble the Abominable Snowman bobblehead voucher presented by The Pride Stores.
- Fargo-Moorhead hosts Comic Book Night on Saturday vs. Cleburne. Fans can win tickets to the new “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” film & dress up as Spider-Man for a chance to win other prizes.
- The second Woodchippers Night brings the RedHawks alternate identity to Newman Outdoor Field on Friday
- Kansas City hosts 鈥淧rincess Night + Girl Scout Campout Night鈥� on Saturday with various princess and pirates in attendance for picture opportunities.
- Siouxland has caught the Pickleball craze, and the first 500 fans at the X鈥檚 game on Saturday will receive a Pickleball paddle sponsored by Pepsi Cola of Siouxland, with the opportunity for fans to test their new toy during the game on a court.
- Winnipeg celebrates a craze from another era with Boy Band Night, themed music through the years and more on Friday.
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.聽 Formed in 2006, the league consists of twelve member clubs with many beginning play in 1993.聽 Through the 2025 season, 483 player contracts have been transferred to MLB organizations.聽 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
