[rink23]

The St. Louis River Walkers ended their playoff and championship drought in impressive fashion in 2025. They posted a 96-66 record in the regular season to win the National League South Division by a convincing eight games over second-place Springfield.
They then swept defending champion and 2025 NL North champ Chicago in three games in the NL Championship Series.
The World Series was a dogfight with Akron. The Walkers needed a two-out home run from Carlos Vidal in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 6 to force extra innings. They eventually won 8-7.
Game 7, however, was a cakewalk as St. Louis routed the Flying Feet 10-0 to earn its first championship since the inaugural season of the Midwest Baseball League in 2018.
Once again, led by Alex Faedo (15-5, 2.88 ERA), the St. Louis rotation was among the best in the league.
Argenis Batista (12-7, 2.83) and Steven Brault (11-7, 3.59) also cracked double-figure wins. Aaron Civale also went 3-2 with a 3.27 ERA after being acquired just before the trade deadline.
The bullpen was not bad either. Edwin Diaz earned 24 saves and posted a 1.76 ERA while Jake Brentz was 9-3 with 18 saves and a 1.07 ERA to help earn him NL Reliever of the Year award for the second consecutive season.
Offensively, the Walkers were improved from a mediocre 2024 campaign but still ranked near the middle of the pack in most areas.
Second baseman Bo Bichette (.343, 21 HRs, 56 RBIs, 70 runs) had one of his best seasons at the plate.
Acquired in a trade just before opening day, outfielder Carlos Vidal proved to be a key cog hitting .265 with 26 homers and 66 RBIs.
While they are not what they used to be left fielder Andrew Benintendi (.330, 19 HRs, 75 RBIs) and first baseman Rhys Hoskins (.243, 28 HRs, 84 RBIs) continue to be major contributors.
Shortstop Jean Carmona (.265, 11 HRs, 57 RBIs) and catcher Jared Thomas (,253, 18 HRs, 66 RBIs) are both young players who both may soon be among the best at their positions.
The roster will look much the same in 2026, outside of one major addition.
An off-season trade with Cleveland landed St. Louis All-Star third baseman Fernando Tatis Jr.
The 27-year-old Tatis batted .265 with 29 homers and 71 RBIs in 2025.
He came at the cost of starting third baseman Tanner Kohlhepp (.261, 17 HRs, 63 RBIs) along with a pair of highly touted prospects closer Adam Wenger and third baseman Edgar Bustillos.
Bustillos was ranked as the game’s No. 8 position player prospect at the time of the trade.
With the addition of Tatis Jr., and his $17.7M per season salary, the River Walkers payroll jumped from 12th at the end of last season to 2nd going into the 2026 campaign.
Much of that came from huge arbitration payouts, close to $30 million over nine players, along with the fact many of the other teams seemed to decide not to spend in the offseason.
Departures
3B -- Tanner Kohlhepp, 26, B-R, T-R, 152 G, .261 BA, 17 HRs, 63 RBIs, .732 OPS (Traded to Cleveland)
Kohlhepp did a fine job at third base during the championship season starting 145 games and all but one in the postseason. He’s a good defender and has some pop. But he’s not the equal of Tatis in either category, making the trade impossible to make once the opportunity arose.
SP -- Aaron Civale, 30, B-R, T-R, 5-3, 3.82 ERA, 13 Gs, 77.2 IP (Signed as free agent with Columbus)
Acquired in a trade with Green Bay just before the August 1 deadline, Civale had a strong final two months for the Walkers. He also was 1-1 with a 0.73 ERA in postseason starts, including being the winner in Game 7 of the World Series against Akron.
LHP – Dan Jennings, 38, B-L, T-L, 2-2, 3.44 ERA, 1 Sv., 63 G, 49.2 IP (Signed as free agent with Akron)
Jennings did a fine job and was the team’s No. 2 lefty most of the season until Hill made his late -season run. However, his age seemed to make it a risk to bring him back.
OF – Alek Thomas, 27, B-L, T-L, 129 G, .287 BA, 4 HRs, 29 RBIS (Signed as free agent with Dayton/currently in minors)
Thomas emerged as a top pinch-hitter in the Walkers’ World Series campaign after rookie Larry Ernesto claimed the role of the team’s primary center fielder. He got on at a nice clip, .349 OBP, and is a good defender. But his lack of power led to him being cut loose.
C – Reese McGuire, 31, B-L, T-R, 17 G .175 BA 0 HRs, 4 RBIs (currently a free agent)
Did what he was paid handling the catching duties the rare days Jared Thomas did not start. He was a good clubhouse leader, but brought very little to the plate.
IF – Christian Arroyo, 30, B-R, T-R, 135 G, .200 BA, 0 HRs, 10 RBIs (currently a free agent)
A dependable infield reserve for the Walkers since the 2020 season, Arroyo’s bat simply went dead in the 2025. There were players who can play multiple positions available who were better hitters, which left Arroyo without a contract.
Starting rotation
SP1 – Alex Faedo, 30, B-R, T-R, 15-5, 2.88 ERA, 33 G, 31 GS, 200.0 IP
Faedo not only is the Walkers’ ace, he also is one of the top pitchers in the game. He’s won 13 or more games each of the past three seasons but also seen his ERA drop during each of them. He averaged more than strike out per inning (9.7 – K/9) and boasted a 1.03 WHIP. He’s a free agent after the season, so it will be interesting to see how this plays out.
SP2 – Argenis Batista, 25, B-L., T-L, 12-7, 2.83 ERA, 24 G, 24 GS, 146.1 IP
Batista may have been the best pitcher going in the NL when he was felled by an oblique strain on July 13 which sidelined for seven weeks. When he came back, he nary missed a beat until suffering an elbow injury in Game 6 of the World Series. He dealt with a back issue during spring training, so injuries are becoming an issue. But when healthy, Batista is one of the best lefties in the game.
SP3 – Adonis Medina, 29, B-R, T-R, 3-6, 3.26 ERA, 12 G, 12 GS, 66.1 IP
The River Walkers didn’t get to see much of Medina in 2025, as he missed nearly four months with a shoulder injury suffered on May 27. He did get back on the mound in September but was left off the postseason roster. He got through spring training without incident, and the Walkers brass is hoping he can pitch like he did when he was a member of the starting rotation in Detroit.
SP4 – Steve Brault, 33, B-L, T-L, 11-7, 3.13 ERA, 32 G, 31 GS, 189.2 IP
Brault’s analytics will not wow you, but all the guy does is put his team in position to win. He’s posted a 3.13 ERA for two straight seasons and his 1.18 WHIP in 2025 was the lowest of his career. He also shined in the postseason going 1-0 with a 1.47 ERA in three games (two starts). He picked up some key innings in the Game 6 win over Akron, taking over after Batista exited after just a third of an inning.
SP5 – Jimmy Lambert, 31, B-R, T-R, 9-12, 5.08 ERA, 25 G, 24 GS, 140.0 IP
For the second straight season, an injury to Brent Honeywell has landed Lambert in the Walkers’ rotation in the early days of the season. Lambert had more than his share of rough outings, but he also had his nights when he shined posting two shutouts to top all of baseball.
Relief pitchers
CL – Edwin Diaz, 32, B-R, T-R, 2-2, 1.76 ERA, 24 Svs., 43 G, 46.0 IP
Diaz’s second season as the Walkers closer was much, much better than his first. The 32-year-old was basically lockdown, posting a 1.02 WHIP while striking out 70 batters. He also had just three blown saves, compared to seven in 2024.
LHP – Jake Brentz, 31, B-L, T-L, 9-3, 1.07 ERA, 18 Svs., 56 G, 58.2 IP
Essentially a co-closer with Daiz, Brentz typically enters the game when the opposition’s best left-handed hitters are due to hit for the final time. The 31-year old was dominant once again in 2025, winning his second straight NL Reliever of the Year award (third time overall). He allowed less than a base runner (0.89 WHIP) and struck an average of 11.7 batters per nine innings.
RHP – Danny Grigg, 33, B-R, T-R, 6-2, 2.39 ERA, 4 Svs., 53 G, 49.0 IP
Grigg would be closing for most team’s, but in St. Louis’ dominant bullpen his job is to make sure the game gets to Diaz and Brentz with his team in front. He did have some hiccups but for the most part he did his job. Batters got on base at just a 1.18 WHIP and he struck out 55 in the 53 innings he pitched.
RHP – John Curtiss, 33, B-R, T-R, 5-2, 3.26 ERA, 1 Sv., 71 G, 58.0 IP
The Walkers allowed Curtiss to reach free agency only to go back and sign him anyway. Curtiss has pitched in at least 34 games for the Walkers every season dating back to 2019 and has topped 70 each of the last five. His strength is his ability to deal with both left and right-handed batters.
LHP – Nick Lodolo, 28, B-L, T-L, 5-2, 3.98 ERA, 1 Sv., 68 G, 74.2 IP
Lodolo had a solid second season with the River Walkers. His WHIP was an identical 1.24 against batters from both sides of the plate. He also struck out an average of 12.4 batters per nine innings. He was hurt by the 4.2 walks he averaged in that same period.
RHP – Derek Gordon, 34, B-R, T-R, 4-6, 4.18 ERA, 21 G, 21 GS, 125.0 IP
After making 21 starts for the Walkers last season, Gordon is making the move to the bullpen. He figures to fare very well against batters from the right side.
LHP – Tim Hill, 36, B-L, T-L, 4-3, 1.81 ERA, 1 Sv., 67 G, 59.2 IP
Grabbed off the waiver wire in April, Hill turned out to be the Walkers best lefty reliever outside of Brentz. He posted a 0.84 WHIP and struck out more than a batter an inning. At age 36, it might be tough to duplicate that season, but anything close would make him an asset.
LHP – Williams Jerez, 33, B-L, T-L, 0-0, 6.43 ERA, 2 Svs., 8 G, 7 IPs
Acquired in a deal with Toledo just before the trade deadline, Jerez had his struggles but still has strong enough of a history to give him a shot to start the season.
Catchers
Jared Thomas, 25, B-L, T-R, .253 BA, 18 HRs, 66 RBIs, 124 G, .740 OPS
Always ranked among the top young catchers in the game, Thomas continues to make strides toward All-Star status. His offensive numbers during the regular season improved across the board and he topped that being named MVP of the World Series.
Austin Hedges, 33, B-R, T-R, .173 BA, 6 HRs, 11 RBIs, 37 G, .629 OPS (Signed as free agent from Green Bay)
Hedges replaces Reece McGuire as the old guy on the bench who starts once every four or five days when Thomas needs a rest. He handles pitchers well and should be a leader in the clubhouse.


Infielders
1B – Rhys Hoskins, 33, B-R, T-R, .243 BA, 28 HRs, 84 RBIs, 142 G, .795 OPS
His numbers are no where near his peak years of 2020 and 2021 – a combined 82 homers and 254 RBIs -but he still led the Walkers in homers and RBIs. Look for him to bat lower in the order but still demand a lot of respect.
2B – Bo Bichette, 28, B-R, T-R, .257 BA, 21 HRs, 56 RBIs, 129 G, .808 OPS
Bichette was enjoying the by far the best season of his career when he suffered a strained groin which sidelined him for four weeks. He struggled upon his return, but than picked it up in the postseason where he batted .349 with five homers and 11 RBIs in 10 games. Took over the lead-off spot in the order early in the season and it seems to suit him well.
UT – Johan Camargo, 32, B-S, T-R, .275, 8 HRs, 41 RBIs, 115 G, .747 OPS
Signed in the offseason due to ability to play three infield positions, Camargo was a major contributor in the Walkers’ title run. He’ll get to make some starts early in the season while Jean Carmona recovers and then rehabs from a knee injury which sidelined him during spring training
UT – Vidal Bruijan, 28, B-S, T-R, .297, 8 HRs, 62 RBIs, 122 G, .826 OPS (Signed as free agent from AAA Omaha).
The Walkers hope Bruijan will be a similar player to Comargo in that he can play third, second and shortstop and also bring an adequate bat to the plate. He’ll also get some early season starts because of Carmona’s injury.
3B – Fernando Tatis Jr., 27, B-R, T-R, .265 BA, 29 HRs, 71 RBIs, 156 G, .778 OPS (Trade with Cleveland)
The Walkers have needed another big bat in their lineup for a few seasons, and they hope the talented Tatis can fill that role. Due to a glitch, 2025 was Tatis’ first season in the majors (when I designed the league he got locked into a minor league team which didn’t have a parent MBL club) and he was impressive for Cleveland. He’s also a gold-glove talent at third base. He’ll bat third to start the season.
3B – Myles Austin, 25, B-R, T-R, .249, 21 HRs, 67 RBIs, 104 G, .779 OPS (AA Springfield)
This is a spot which is likely to go to Carmona in a few weeks, but Austin might get some chances to play shortstop while he is here. There even is a chance he gets some time at first base if Hoskins needs a day off.
Outfielders
RF – Carlos Vidal, 30, B-L, T-L, .265, 26 HRs, 66 RBIs, 142 G, .831 OPS
Acquired just before Opening Day from Evansville, Vidal was expected to be part of a platoon in right field but instead turned out to be one of the team’s best players at the plate. His homers were second on the team and his OPS topped the squad. His home run in the ninth inning of Game 6 to force extra innings will be legendary. A player who just might be much better than advertised.
CF – Larry Ernesto, 25, B-S, T-R, .261, 14 HRs, 34 RBIs, 79 G, .797 OPS
Given a chance to be the every day center fielder around mid-July, Ernesto took the job and ran with it after his previous attempts had fallen short. He’ll have the job from Day 1 in 2026, it’s up to him to make sure he keeps it.
LF – Andrew Benintendi, 31, B-L, T-L, .269, 19 HRs, 75 RBIs, 153 G, .772 OPS
In 2018 through 2020, Benintendi was one of the best players in the game and he’s not that any more. But he’s still pretty darn good and seems to be at his best when the game is on the line. He batted .341 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 10 postseason games. This will likely be his last season with the Walkers, as his contract is due to run out and it’s unlikely the team will want to pay him big bucks to come back
OF – Edmond Americaan, 29, B-L, T-L, .265, 5 HRs, 32 RBIs, 120 G, .730 OPS
Americaan has settled in nicely as the Walkers’ fourth outfielder. He can play both left and center above average and just seems to find a way to get onto base. One of the top pinch-hitters in the game
OF – Edward Oliveras, 30, B-R, T-R, .286, 23 HRs, 92 RBIS (AAA Memphis)
After a long wait, Oliveras will finally get his shot in the show. The Walkers hope he can provide punch from the right-side off the bench. If Vidal struggles against left-handed pitchers, Oliveras may see time in right field.
Injured
SS – Jean Carmona, 26, B-S, T-R, .265, 11 HRs, 57 RBIs, 150 G, .721 OPS (Out with knee injury – two weeks)
His elite defense took a step back in 2025, but he also took a minor stride forward at the plate. He’ll make the spectacular play defensive, but than botch the easy one. Had a strong postseason with the bat, hitting .294 with five runs scored and four RBIs.
SP – Brent Honeywell, 31, B-R, T-R, Did not play in 2025 – (Out with torn rotator cuff for five months)
Just a horrible free-agent signing by the Walkers before the 2025 season. He got hurt in his first spring training start last season and never saw the mound. He was in his fifth start of this spring when his rotator cuff blew. The earliest he could be back is late August.
In the minors
SP – Tanner Bibee 27, B-R, T-R, 12-7, 3.35 ERA, 27 G, 27 GS, 155.2 IP (AAA Memphis)
The Walkers picked Lambert over Bibee after Honeywell went down for at least five months with his injury. He seems to have maxed out his potential, but he did pretty well for Memphis last season. He also started a pair of games for the River Walkers in 2025, going 1-0 with a 2.38 ERA over 11.1 innings.
RP – Andrew McDaniel, 25, B-R, T-R, 6-8, 3.52 ERA, 33 saves, 59 G, 66 IP (AAA Syracuse and AA Hartford)
A minor-league signing out of Chicago’s system, McDaniel has posted 27 saves or more each of the past four seasons.
RP – Angel Tiburcio, 25, B-R, T-R, 5-4, 5 Svs., 2.80 ERA, 36 G, 61 IP (Class A Florida)
Acquired in a trade with Twin Cities on Dec. 26, the Snow Cats received minor league starter Hunter Barco, Tiburcio seems to be that classic reliever with all the talent int the world, he just has to harness it. The Walkers will likely fast track him to see if he can reach the majors this season.
C – Clay Owens, 27, B-L, T-R, .269, 9 HRs, 55 RBIs, 83 G, .842 OPS (AAA Memphis)
The Walkers gave serious consideration to brings Owens north with the team, as he can also backup Hoskins at first base, but decided against it so he can get more playing time in AAA.
1B – JT Schwartz, 26, B-L, T-R, .261, 9 HRs, 55 RBIs, 80 G, .766 OPS (AAA Memphis)
Lost out to Myles Austin in the battle to be the team’s third infielder. It was the fact Austin bats from the left side which swayed the decision. Played in three games with the Walkers in 2025, and went 5 for 9 with a homer.
OF – Jesse Franklin, 27, B-L, T-L, .258, 8 HRs, 51 RBIs, 114 G, .714 OPS (AAA Memphis)
Lost out to Oliveras in the role as second reserve outfielder. Oliveras batting from the right side, and with more power, probably swung it.