Mid-West Baseball League

2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE’S

The Mid-West Baseball League Commissioners’ Office and Hall of Fame Committee proudly announce that the following four Players have been inducted into the Mid-West Baseball League Hall of Fame. Two by the General Election Vote & Two by the Veterans Committee Members Vote.

Albert Pujols, Robinson Cano, Scott Rolen, & Sammy Sosa

Here are the 2026 Mid-West Baseball League Hall of Fame Voting Results.

These four inductees will make up the 2026 Hall of Fame Class for the Mid-West Baseball League.

2026 DRAFT DAY

The 2026 Mid-West Baseball League Draft is Scheduled for Saturday, February 7th, 2026, at 10:30 AM ET.

The 2026 MWBL Draft Order is now posted – including the Lottery, which the Yucaipa Road Runners won. The Draft will commence at 10:30 AM, consist of 12 Rounds and 312 Picks, and be completed in under 6 Hours.

Please be advised of this early Draft Date.

HOLLYWOOD LEGEND KERSHAW SET TO RETIRE – END OF 2026

BREAKING: Hollywood Werewolves Legend Clayton Kershaw to Retire at End of 2026 Season

Hollywood — The MWBL’s most dominant pitcher of the modern era announced today that this season will be his last.

Clayton Kershaw confirmed he will retire at the conclusion of the 2026 campaign. “I’m at peace with it,” Kershaw said. “It feels like the right time.”

Drafted 4th overall in Hollywood’s unheralded 2007 draft by owner Steve Cutler, Kershaw spent his entire 18-year career in a Werewolves uniform. “Steve believed in me from day one,” Kershaw said. “I couldn’t be more proud to finish where I started.”

Kershaw leaves behind a legendary résumé:

3 Cy Young Awards
11-time All-Star
Seven 20-win seasons
Nine No-Hitters
287 wins (2nd all-time)
League-best 2.31 ERA
3,170 strikeouts (3rd all-time)
.774 winning percentage – best in MWBL history
Four World Series appearances, three championships

But in his announcement, Kershaw focused less on stats and more on relationships.

“What I’ll miss most is the feeling after a win,” he said. “Celebrating in the clubhouse with the guys — you can’t replace that.”

He thanked ownership, coaches, trainers, and clubhouse staff for keeping him on the field “every fifth day,” and called his teammates “the hardest goodbye.”

Kershaw also spoke emotionally about his family, crediting his wife Ellen for navigating 18 seasons of ballpark life. “She’s lived every pitch with me,” he said. “I couldn’t have done this without her.”

Despite the emotions, Kershaw was clear about his decision. “I’m really at peace with it,” he said. “This feels right.”

Hollywood now prepares for one final season with its franchise icon — a farewell tour for a pitcher who defined an era and built one of the greatest careers in MWBL history.

End of an era.

2025 MWBL CHRISTMAS CLASSIC HOME RUN DERBY

MATANZAS, CUBA – Thursday, December 25, 2025

Forget chestnuts roasting on an open fire! In the coastal city of Matanzas, Cuba, the only things roasting were baseballs. On a glorious 81-degree afternoon, the historic Estadio Victoria de Girón overflowed with a capacity crowd of 22,000 enthusiastic fans. They weren’t there for a traditional holiday feast; they were there for the power-hitting spectacle of the 2025 Mid-West Baseball League (MWBL) Annual Christmas Classic Home Run Derby.

The atmosphere was electric—a unique blend of passionate local Cuban fans and a festive contingent of MWBL supporters who made the trip south to escape the winter chill. As palm trees swayed beyond the outfield walls, twelve of the league’s most feared sluggers stepped onto the diamond to put on a show for the ages.

The Format: ‘Jingle Balls’ and Holiday Power

In keeping with MWBL tradition, the event adhered to the strict “one-representative-per-franchise” rule established in 2017. Twelve elite power hitters—six from the American League and six from the National League—competed in a bracket-style format. Each slugger looked to launch “Jingle Balls” into the Matanzas skyline, trading their traditional team colors for festive, holiday-themed jerseys. Continue reading →

2025 CHRISTMAS CLASSIC PARTICIPANTS ANNOUNCED

MATANZAS, CUBA – The Mid-West Baseball League (MWBL) is bringing the holiday cheer—and massive power—to the Caribbean! The league today unveiled the twelve elite sluggers who will compete in the 2025 Christmas Classic Home Run Derby, set to take place on Christmas Day, December 25th, at the historic Victoria de Girón Stadium in Matanzas, Cuba.

Twelve Days of Sluggers: The Christmas Classic Field

In the spirit of the event, the MWBL has selected twelve representatives from the American and National Leagues who demonstrated exceptional power during the 2025 season. Notably, the field adheres strictly to the MWBL rule established in 2017:

No single franchise will have more than one representative competing for the festive crown.

Here are the 12 sluggers ready to launch ‘Jingle Balls’ out of the park:

AMERICAN LEAGUE – 2025 MWBL CHRISTMAS CLASSIC PARTICIPANTS

Aaron Judge	Shohei Ohtani	Cal Raleigh	Eugenio Suarez	Kyle Schwarber	Anthony Santander
Hollywood	Fremont	Cincinnati	Titusville	Detroit	Coconut Creek

NATIONAL LEAGUE – 2025 MWBL CHRISTMAS CLASSIC PARTICIPANTS

Brent Rooker	Jose Ramirez	Jake Burger	Juan Soto	Giancarlo Stanton	Pete Alonso
Sacramento	Tempe	Bethesda	Tampa Bay	Prairie	Selkirk