2025 Brings An Impressive Group of Rookies to the CBA
Every new season brings fresh expectations. The fan bases around the CBA begin to get excited to see how their team will do with a fresh start. However, maybe the most exciting thing to look forward to in a new season is the new players. Since the CBA began just a few short years ago we have seen some impressive rookies burst on to the scene. From Alejandro Pena winning an MVP and Rookie of the Year the same season, to Nick Pankow’s impressive jump straight from the draft to the Premier League, young players have made their mark on the league.
2025 expects to be no different. The last few drafts have brought some talented players to the league and some of them are ready to make their mark. Below we will look at a player from each team expected to contribute at the big league level this season.
Premier League
Arizona Thunderbirds – none
The T-Birds have some promising young players in their system but they are still a year away from the big league level.
Chicago Gale – SP Willie Cadena
International signing to Dev-B, to Dev-A, to Reserves, and now to the Major Leagues. That’s the path 21 year old Willie Cadena has taken. “Einstein” is still young but he’s pitched well at every step of his career and now the PL beckons.
Cincinnati Royals – RP Tim Engle
Engle was a 2nd round pick just last year but could be a key piece to the Royals bullpen this season. If he can continue his strong play that he showed during the Winter League, he could be a solid contributor this year in the PL.
Dallas Devils – 1B Alvaro Mejia
Mejia is on the fringe of being a rookie, he spent a chuck of last season on loan in Oklahoma, but the Devils have their next big bopper. With perennial star Adam Borne in the twilight of his career, Mejia should see an increased role and based on his time with the Mammoths, he won’t disappoint.
Denver Wolves – C Andre Smith
Smith was also drafted in 2024 after the Wolves traded down out of the first round, and then down two more times, to get the guy they were targeting all along. The 22 year old, played 20 games at Dev-A, and then jumped straight up to the Premier League for a nine game cup of coffee at the end of the year. He looks to have an inside track on the starting catcher job for this year.
Detroit Motors – none
The Motors are two time defending champions. They’re really, really good. A rookie would have a tough time breaking in to this team.
Florida Giants – SS Nick Pankow
The aforementioned #1 overall pick of 2024 burst straight on to the scene last season. With some time under his belt, Pankow is poised for a huge 2025 season for the Giants with the bright lights shining on him.
Midwest Plainsmen – SP Dylan Smith
A first round pick in 2023, Smith looks to be in the Plainsmen rotation in 2025. The Michigan native made 7 starts last season with the big club but struggled a bit with his control. He’s a workhorse that can eat innings and should continue to improve.
Portland Axemen – C Ancieto Navas
Navas, a first round pick last year out of Texas, has showed a great ability to handle pitchers. The Axemen are back in the Premier League and Navas will be heading up there with them, starting behind the dish against righties.
Sacramento Golden Bears – Devon Friend
Friend has battled injuries and bounced around a few organizations but the 24 year old will head to spring training looking to find his place in the Bears lineup. With a bat like Friend’s he shouldn’t have too hard a time finding himself a spot to hit.
Silver League
Atlanta Swarm – SP Jose Romero
The Dominican right hander isn’t even old enough to legally drink a beer yet. But don’t let his age fool you, Romero has dazzled in the winter and will be fighting to earn some starts in the Swarm rotation.
Austin Outlaws – SP Jesse Buchert
The knuckleballer was a first round pick in the inaugural amateur draft. After being traded from Detroit, Buchert will now look to anchor the Outlaws rotation after very successful seasons in the reserves and Winter League.
DC Eagles – LF Francisco Ramirez
Meet another up and coming star in the Eagles’ outfield. How about a .448 batting average and 1.275 OPS in Winter League? That’s what Ramirez did in his “offseason”. He’ll join fellow youngsters Justin Jordan and Orlando Burgueno in a talented trio of outfielders.
Great Lakes Monsters – SS Jose de Leon
After a trade from DC, de Leon got nearly the smallest cup of coffee at the bigs, with just 2 at bats for the Monsters in 2024. Now it’s 2025 and the Venezuelan is ready to take over as the starting shortstop for Great Lakes.
Los Angeles Chilis – CF Kevin Simmons
Originally drafted by Philadelphia, and then traded to San Diego, Simmons has finally found a home in Southern California. Simmons is a plus defender in center field and if he can start to find his hitting stroke he will be a solid piece at the major league level for years to come.
Mexico City Chupacabras – SP Jarred Haight
Haight has long been eyed by teams making trades with the Chupacabras but the front office held on to their young pitcher and they hope to cash in on their faith. Haight should be in Mexico City’s rotation from day 1 in 2025.
Miami Warriors – SP Chris Garza
Garza has spent his time in the minors and he is more than ready for his shot. A 2021 draft pick, Garza has impressed in the last 2 years in the minor leagues and his Winter League performance this offseason has proven he is ready to join the Warriors rotation.
New York Roar – none
The Roar will look to make their stay in the SL a short one with help from the established players in their lineup and pitching staff.
Oklahoma Mammoths – CF Jesus Gomez
Another first round pick from 2024, Gomez has all the tools. Look for him to make the jump from AA to battle for a starting job in spring and likely take over the full time role in center field at some point this season.
Philadelphia Liberty – C Tim Wheeler
The man they call “Waffle” was taken in the first round last spring and quickly moved through the Liberty system. After trading Angel Rivas this offseason, Philadelphia will look to the former Tar Heel to take over the starting catcher role for 2025 and the foreseeable future.
Bronze League
Bay Area Pandas – 1B Danny Fernandez
The Panamanian looks to be the starting first baseman for the Pandas this season. He’ll join a team full of young players looking to push the Pandas out of their building phase and in to the win column.
Boston Rogers – 3B Dan Thomas
Thomas just turned 24 and the former LSU Tiger is ready for a full time gig. A brief spell in the majors last season showed Thomas can hit big league pitching and his glove will help the Rogers on the hot corner.
Brooklyn Bulldogs – CF Tom Bridges
Not many players in the CBA have the range that Bridges has. The former first round pick posted an incredible 32.9 ZR in the reserves last season and if he can even hit a little, he’ll be a huge asset for the Bulldogs.
Carolina Aces – SP Jordan Valdez
Carolina acquired Valdez from Chicago last summer and the 23 year old is rocketing toward the big leagues. The right-hander has a devastating changeup that could leave many BL hitters shaking their heads this season.
Houston Moondogs – 2B Leo Navarro
Navarro is another guy who briefly tasted the big leagues last season and looks to make his stay permanent in 2025. He’s got a great glove and has been a big average guy at every stop in the minor leagues.
Indianapolis Hawks – 1B Aaron Scheider
Big Meech went 5th overall in the 2024 draft, showed up to the Hawks, and has been hitting bombs ever since. The big man has 35 homers in 82 games at the reserves and Winter League. His 2.5 WAR this winter suggests a Rookie of the Year trophy may not be the only hardware he receives in his career.
Iowa Predators – 3B Zach Sweeney
They call him “Monument” and last yea’rs 9th overall pick looks poised to breakthrough in to the BL in 2025. The California kid can hit, and the Preds will look for him to be hitting in their lineup for the next decade or more.
Salt Lake City Snappers – 3B Andy Rodriguez
At 27 years old, Rodriguez isn’t your typical rookie. After spending 3 years with Detroit’s reserves Rodriguez has a new home in Salt Lake City and he’s ready for his shot on the big stage. He had 21 at bats for the Snappers in Winter League and had 7 hits, 3 being home runs.
San Diego Skylarks – RF Jose Favila
Favila played 9 games in 2023 and 9 games in 2024 but 2025 is likely to see him play a full schedule for the Skylarks. He’s an above average right fielder and has speed to burn. If his bat comes around, San Diego has their next superstar.
Wichita Weasels – none
The Weasels have a young core of players who have been together and they should continue to grow under their new leadership.
