For the last few months, I had been hearing rumors and rumblings about the Frontier League expanding. Some indy team names were thrown around as possibly looking to jump to a different league.

For the first time, from an official media source, Indy Ball Island has learned that two teams are planning on leaving the American Association and joining the Frontier League (soon to be renamed the National Association of Professional Baseball in 2027).

The Observer Reporter out of Washington, PA (home of the Washington Wild Things) revealed that an anonymous source confirmed that the Kane County Cougars and the Cleburne Railroaders of the American Association plan to join the league next year, bringing the league to a total of 20 teams.

Kane County is located in Geneva, IL, just west of Chicago, which does make sense for the Frontier League. However, Cleburne is in Texas, which is about a 7-hour drive from any other Frontier League team.

Long travel with new teams (Down East and Mississippi) seems to just be getting longer.

The good news with a 20-team league would mean that the league conferences can be balanced once again. Currently, the 18 teams are split 9 in each conference, leading to interleague play every series.

One team (Lake Erie or Washington were mentioned in the Observer Reporter) would have to jump to the Atlantic Conference, making for a lot of travel for whichever team will make several trips up to Canada each season.

None of this information has yet to be confirmed by the Frontier League (which is why the source wanted to remain anonymous).

Check back with Indy Ball Island when everything becomes official!