Less than two months remain until the Milwaukee Milkmen take the field in their 3rdseason of existence. The reigning American Association champions will return to playing a full 100-game schedule after the COVID-19 pandemic shortened the league’s season to 60 games and condensed the amount of playing teams to six. This year, the Cleburne Railroaders, Kansas City Monarchs, Lincoln Saltdogs, Gary SouthShore Railcats, and the Sioux City Explorers all return to the fold and are joined by new AA members, the Houston Apollos and Kane County Cougars. The Texas Airhogs ceased operations after the 2020 season.
With more roster slots needing to be filled in the country’s premiere independent baseball league, the competitive density won’t be what it was last year. Teams across the American Association have had to return players on loan from other teams within the league, which has decimated rosters from Texas to Manitoba; however the Milkmen return a strong nucleus that propelled them to their first championship.
Here’s the players to know:
#20 Adam Brett Walker, OF
Simply put, Walker was the Babe Ruth of the American Association last year and his trophy case shows it. The 2020 AA Player of the Year matched his 2019 mark of 22 home runs while still playing 41 fewer games last season. Entering his 3rdseason with the Milkmen, the Milwaukee native is a fan favorite but an opposing team’s worst nightmare.
#19 Mason Davis, SS
Davis returns for a second year on the Milkmen, looking to build off of a season where he swiped 15 bases which ranked second in the AA. Davis batted everywhere from second to eighth in the lineup and possesses surprising pop in his bat at 5-foot-9. According to an interview with the Miami Marlins, the shortstop says he models his game after former Philadelphia Phillies All-Star Jimmy Rollins.
#34 Mikey Reynolds, OF
Reynolds joins the Milkmen after a stint on the St. Paul Saints who departed the AA to become the Minnesota Twins’ triple-A affiliate. Reynolds is a do-everything player who scorched the Milkmen in nearly every series this year. Coming off a year where he posted a .332 batting average, Milkmen fans will be happy to see Reynolds in the home dugout instead.
#2 Myles Smith, RP
Like Walker, Smith has played with the Milkmen since their inception. The 2021 bullpen sports many fresh faces but Smith is a primary candidate to anchor 8thand 9thinning roles. The 29-year-old had a slightly subpar year with his control in 2020 but his 95+ mile per hour fastball can strike out the American Association’s best in crunch time.
#49 Conor Fisk SP
Fisk is an intriguing pitcher that joins the Milkmen after not playing in 2020. The Brown Deer, Wisconsin native reached triple-A level in the Blue Jays organization as recent as 2019, where he pitched in a swingman role. After the Milkmen lost all of their regular rotation except for David Holmberg, Fisk will likely fill a rotation spot but could come in for long relief when needed. His velocity has increased in the last few years as well.
The Milkmen return to Franklin Field for their home opener on May 25 with 50% seating capacity. Courtney Day, director of the Franklin Health Department said that “This capacity matches what they were allowed at the end of the 2020 baseball season.” The Milkmen have announced that a ring ceremony will take place at their home opener in honor of their 2020 American Association Championship. Ticket information can be found here.