The 2026 season finished with a real positive feeling for Idaho. A team record 80 wins and over 2M attendance for the first time. Young talent has bubbled to the AFBL level and is starting to flourish.
Batting
1B McKinney hit 28HR and drove in 90.
2B Parks ended the season on fire, with 23 hits in his last 11 games.
SS - Dobson turned in a huge 30HR/46 SB, 107 RBI season.
3B Allen hit 20 HR and continues to develop his power and defense.
LF Pegas won a best defender award and led the FL in steals with 52.
RF Hernandez hit .313 as a 20 year old in 256 at bats. He also stole 28 bases.
In CF, veteran and one time batting champ Klebel is giving way to 22 year old Pelletier. Klebel will serve as DH this season as he tries to reach 1000 career hits (sitting on 992).
Hopefully C Dan Dixon is over his ruptured finger tendon and can continue to be a major defensive presence behind the plate. He threw out over 40% of potential base stealers last season in 107 games. His backup will probably be one time starter Alex Perry.
The projected lineup:
RF - Jesus Hernandez
LF - David Pegas
SS - Loren Dobson
1B - Mike McKinney
3B - Brad Allen
2B - Mal Parks
C - Dan Dixon
DH - Bingham Klebel
CF - Dan Pelletier
Pitching
The pitching staff is lead by Zach Anderson. He has 80 career wins and is coming off a 19 win campaign. He is followed by young veteran Jim Fish, who posted a 4.6 WAR in 2026. Steady Jim O'Brien will be the #3 starter. He has won 10+ games every year in a Steelhead uniform and looks to extend that streak. Farias and Vic Taylor look to round up the starting 5. Farias started 24 games, completing 3, but suffered an injury that prematurely ended his season. Taylor, now a full season removed from a torn flexor tendon looks to try and reach his potential.
Waiting in the wings should injuries hit is Cesar Hernandez who split duties between starting and bullpen in 2026. PJ Gilmore, Doug O'Brien, Jim Smith, and Hal Joe wait in the wings for their turn. Expect Dan Butler to close, a job he did so well in 2026. Plenty of bullpen spots up for grabs on the 2027 squad, as the pen struggled, especially in middle/long relief.
On The Farm
Currently the Idaho Steelheads hold down the 7th best farm system, with the top prospects in the Idaho system being hitters.
CF - 18 year old Shojiro Chouda will start 2027 in A ball. He hit .276/11/58 in 2026, spending 3/4th of the season in R and the remained in A ball.
CF - 19 year old Koto Matsui, starting the 2027 season in AA. He hit .280/22/77 splitting time between A and AA in 2026.
1B - 21 year old Harry Read will start 2027 in AAA. He tore the cover off the ball in AA in 2027, .302/22/97 and 20 steals. His bat is close to AFBL ready.
These guys are followed closed by 2B Ogawa, playing in R, Catcher Eric Martin, 20, playing in AAA, CF Jose Arroyo, invited to spring training with the big club in 2027 and P - Hal Joe, who will pitch in AAA this year.
The Outlook
A young nucleus of talented players should be able to compete for a playoff spot in 2027. This club has some power, lots of speed, and deep starting pitching and should be entering the championship window. No doubt there needs to be some improvement from the number 4 and 5 starters, and good health throughout the lineup, but this team should be entertaining and competitive for the next few seasons.
Best of luck to everyone in 2027.
