Several AL Central teams saw Minor League affiliates win championships in 2026, a good sign for the future. Plus, some strong performances from AFL-bound players.
The September 2026 AL Central farm report highlights standout performances across the Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals minor league systems. Guardians pitcher Caden Favors led the Eastern League with 28 strikeouts over the final three weeks, totaling 140 strikeouts across 128 innings. Outfielder Jaison Chourio added 23 hits and 10 stolen bases in his last 19 games for Akron, while High-A Lake County first baseman Anthony Martinez hit five home runs across his final 15 games.
In the Royals system, the High-A Quad Cities River Bandits won the 2026 Midwest League championship. Pitcher David Shields finished with 139 strikeouts over 116 innings, while Kendry Chourio held opponents to a .195 batting average. Hitter Zion Rose posted a .324/.438/.432 slash line before heading to the Arizona Fall League, and pitcher Hunter Owen earned a promotion to Triple-A Omaha after striking out 26 batters over 18 innings with Northwest Arkansas.
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