Rockers Announce 11 Returning Players from 2026 Championship Team
All-Star RHP Alex LePage highlights five returning pitchers, six position players set for return to Green Bay
Ashwaubenon, Wis.-The Rockers will head into the 2026 season looking to repeat as back-to-back Champions for the first time in Northwoods League history. The team will have a familiar core of 11 players returning as the foundation of this year’s roster.
“To be able to bring back such a large group of guys is a thrill for us and should be for the community as well,” said General Manager John Fanta. “Every single player made meaningful contributions towards our playoff run last year and we’re excited to be a part of their continued development in Green Bay this summer. The mutual interest in them wanting to return to play at Capital Credit Union Park displays how much fun they had last year and how hungry they are to build on their shared success.”
Eli Selga – OF – Golden West College
Selga will return to the Rockers after appearing in 45 games and posting a .322 average and .926 OPS in 2025. He was second on the team with 49 hits, tied for first in home runs with seven, and drove in 32 runs. After spending his freshman season at San Diego State, Selga will take his talent to Golden West College this spring.
David Ballenilla – IF – Tennessee Wesleyan
Ballenilla was a fixture at second base for the Championship team last year, appearing in 56 games and earning the Rawlings Gold Glove Award at the position for his defensive prowess. At the plate, he posted a .277 average and led team with 61 hits, while swatting six home runs and driving in 35. He also was a menace on the basepaths, stealing 16 bases. Ballenilla will play at Tennessee Wesleyan this spring after spending last year with Central Arizona College.
Max Humphrey – OF – Kent State University
A stalwart in center field, Humphrey appeared in 51 games while batting .236, with seven home runs, 30 RBI, and 19 stolen bases. His elite defense all season was capped off with a SportsCenter Top 10 play in the Northwoods League Championship game in Duluth, in which he made an all-out diving catch to save multiple runs from scoring.
Parker Martin – IF – Southern Indiana
Martin appeared in 36 games in the first half for the 2025 squad. His .333 batting average ranked second on the team and he got on base at a .432 clip, proving himself as a key offensive contributor for the Rockers en route to winning the first half title and earning a postseason berth.
Aidan Kuni – C – New Mexico
Kuni will settle in at New Mexico this spring as a catcher after appearing in 39 games and playing all over the diamond for the Rockers last summer. He posted a .256 batting average, was tied for second on the team with six home runs, had 26 RBI, .405 on-base percentage, and .831 OPS.
Joe Mennella – 1B – Wagner College
Mennella joined the Rockers for 24 games in the second half of the season and playoffs, providing tremendous power in the middle of the Rockers lineup while playing first base. He posted a .231 batting average, and his seven home runs were tied for first on the team. Mennella had 28 RBI, and was on-base at a .370 clip, while posting an .883 OPS.
Alex LePage – RHP – Immaculata University
A 2025 Northwoods League All-Star, LePage made seven starts in the first half of the season for the Rockers, posting a 4-1 record and limiting opponents to a .217 batting average against him. In 29 innings pitched, he walked only five, while striking out 35, and posted a 3.41 ERA and 0.97 WHIP.
KJ Ward – RHP – Park University
Ward was a second half addition that added a stabilizing force to the back end of the bullpen while gaining some key outs throughout the playoffs. With a fastball that routinely touched 97 MPH, he tossed 19 innings, recording 19 strikeouts, 2.84 ERA, and 1.11 WHIP.
Keaton Baird – RHP – Harding University
Baird proved to be an effective swingman in the second half of last season, appearing in eight games and making one start. He posted a 2-0 record in 25.1 innings on the bump, recording 22 strikeouts and posting a 5.33 ERA.
Caden Crask-Weeks – LHP – Drury University
Crask-Weeks was a member of the first half starting rotation last summer. He appeared in six games, making five starts, posting a 1-0 record in 24 innings while recording a 4.50 ERA.
Cord Copley – RHP – Bossier Parish CC
Copley appeared in five games in relief during the first half of 2025, while compiling a 3.48 ERA and earning one save. In 10.1 innings he struck out 14 batters.
Season ticket packages, group tickets and the Pep’s Drafthaus Flex Packs are available now. Visit www.greenbayrockers.com or call the ticket office at 920-497-7225 to reserve your seats today. The Rockers front office at Capital Credit Union Park is located at 2231 Holmgren Way in Ashwaubenon. Office hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm.
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The Green Bay Rockers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 32nd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 26 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and over 410 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion and Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX).