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!
Both the Frontier League and the American Association released their 2023 All-Star game rosters.
Frontier League
2023 ALL-STAR ROSTERS ANNOUNCED
Crestwood, IL – The 30th edition of the Frontier League mid-summer classic will be at 6:30, Wednesday, July 12th at the home of the Windy City ThunderBolts, Ozinga Field in Crestwood, Illinois. The game will be broadcast for free through the Flo Sports social media pages.
Expect a special appearance from the world famous ZOOperstars as well as a post-game firework spectacular.
At 6:30 on Tuesday the 11th, Ozinga Field will also host an All-Star Skills Competition, featuring Precision Hitting, Bunting, Catcher Throwing and Outfield Throwing, with a Home Run Derby to close it out.
Here are the 2023 rosters, first, representing the East division in the Windy City,
Catcher (C)
Rusber Estrada, New Jersey Jackals (Starter)
Sicnarf Loopstok, Ottawa Titans
Zak Whalin, Empire State Greys
First Base (1B)
Keon Barnum, New Jersey Jackals (Starter)
Juremi Profar, Quebec Capitales
Second Base (2B)
Tucker Nathan, New York Boulders (Starter)
Cito Culver, Tri-City ValleyCats
Third Base (3B)
James Nelson, New Jersey Jackals (Starter)
J.R. DiSarcina, Empire State Greys
Shortstop (SS)
Matt McDermott, New York Boulders (Starter)
Ti’Quan Forbes, New Jersey Jackals
Outfielder (OF)
Josh Rehwaldt, New Jersey Jackals (Starter)
Pat Kivelhan, New York Boulders (Starter)
Edwin Mateo, Sussex County Miners (Starter)
Rodrigo Orozco, Trois-Rivieres Aigles
Left-handed Pitcher (LHP)
Griffin Baker, Sussex County Miners
Grant Larson, Ottawa Titans
Reymin Guduan, Tri-City ValleyCats
Right-handed Pitcher (RHP)
Lance Lusk, New Jersey Jackals
Frank Moscatiello, Quebec Capitales
Robbie Hitt, Sussex County Miners
Tucker Smith, Trois-Rivieres Aigles
Matt Vogel, New Jersey Jackals
Mark Moclair, Sussex County Miners
Representing the West division in the Windy City,
Catcher (C)
Dakota Phillips, Evansville Otters (Starter)
Blake Grant-Parks, Schaumburg Boomers
Melvin Novoa, Washington Wild Things
First Base (1B)
Brennan Price, Florence Y’alls (Starter)
Peter Zimmermann, Gateway Grizzlies
Second Base (2B)
Chase Dawson, Schaumburg Boomers (Starter)
Gabe Holt, Gateway Grizzlies
Third Base (3B)
D.J. Stewart, Gateway Grizzlies (Starter)
Jomar Reyes, Evansville Otters
Shortstop (SS)
Abdiel Diaz, Gateway Grizzlies (Starter)
Jarrod Watkins, Lake Erie Crushers
Outfielder (OF)
Andrew Penner, Gateway Grizzlies (Starter)
Jeffrey Baez, Evansville Otters (Starter)
Jairus Richards, Gateway Grizzlies (Starter)
Gaige Howard, Schaumburg Boomers
Left-handed Pitcher (LHP)
Cole Cook, Joliet Slammers
Leoni De La Cruz, Evansville Otters
Kobey Schlotman, Schaumburg Boomers
Right-handed Pitcher (RHP)
Collin Sullivan, Gateway Grizzlies
Henry Omana, Windy City ThunderBolts
Nathan Florence, Florence Y’alls
Tim Holdgrafer, Evansville Otters
Edgar Martinez, Florence Y’alls
Garrett Christman, Windy City ThunderBolts
American Association
2023 American Association All-Star Teams
The All-Star Teams are locked in for July 17 & 18 in Milwaukee. A star-studded lineup from each division will come together for two days for a Homerun Derby and All-Star Game to showcase their talent and compete for mid-season bragging rights.
Indy Ball Island 