MOORHEAD, Minn. -
April 8, 2025 -
PRLog -- The Baseball Champions League (BCL) Americas gets underway today at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú in Mexico City, with a team made up mostly of players from the
American Association of Professional Baseball (@AA_Baseball) reigning champion Kane County Cougars representing the league in the six-team international competition.
Here are
10 (or so) Things to Know about the BCL and AAPB this week:
- Hosted by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) in conjunction with the Mexican Baseball League (LMB), the 2025 BCL Americas features the Cougars and five other champion clubs (https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2025-baseball-champions-league-americas/home):
- Leñadores de Las Tunas (Cuba) – Serie Nacional Champions
- Pirates de Santa Maria (Curaçao) – Curaçao Baseball League Champions
- Tigres de Chinandega (Nicaragua) – Liga de Béisbol Profesional Nacional
- Titanes de Florida (Puerto Rico) – Liga de Béisbol Superior Doble A
- Diablos Rojos del México (Mexico) – Mexican Baseball League (LMB) Champions and tournament hosts
- These teams are divided into two groups:
- Group A: Diablos Rojos del México, Tigres de Chinandega, Titanes de Florida
- Group B: Kane County Cougars, Leñadores de Las Tunas, Pirates de Santa Maria
- Play begins today in the Round Robin portion (https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2025-baseball-champions-le...) of the contest, with the Cougars taking on Santa Maria at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT). Vin Timpanelli (Staten Island, N.Y. / Ramapo (N.J.) College; 1-2. 2.70 for Kane County last year) gets the starting assignment on the mound
- Some of the notable players on other teams competing in the event (https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2025-baseball-champions-le...) include:
- Aristides Aquino, Diablos Rojos del México
- Robinson Canó, Diablos Rojos del México
- Francisco Mejía, Diablos Rojos del México
- Jose Pirela, Diablos Rojos del México
- Jonathan Schoop, Santa María Pirates
- Andrelton Simmons, Santa María Pirates
- The format includes two group-stage games for each team followed by crossover games between second- and third-place finishers (Friday)
- Kane County also plays on Thursday vs. Leñadores (4 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. CT) before QF/Semifinal matchups the next two days.
- All BCL games involving the Cougars are available for free live viewing at aabaseball.tv, as well as broadcast partners Fubo, Unbeaten, Ryz Sports Network and Gray TV.
- There are several companies that are helping support the American Association and its players in participating in the Baseball Champions League: Carbliss, CAPX, Champro, VensureHR
- In the inaugural 2023 edition of the BCL, the Fargo-Moorhead claimed the first title
- The AAPB season gets underway on Thursday, May 8
Account Phone Number