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The Kane County Cougars will play in a different league next season.
Starting in 2027, the Geneva-based team will leave the American Association for the National Association of Professional Baseball (NAPB), which is the new name for the Frontier League.
Here's what to know:
Same ballpark experience: According to the team's owner, REV Entertainment, nothing will change for fans on game days. They say it will be the same affordable, family-friendly baseball at Northwestern Medicine Field.
About the new league: Founded in 1993, the NAPB is the oldest active independent pro baseball league in North America ("independent" means the teams aren't part of a Major League club's farm system). It's also an official MLB Partner League, which means it has a formal working relationship with Major League Baseball.
Third league in six years: The Cougars spent almost 30 years as a minor league affiliate of MLB clubs before joining the American Association in 2021. Last season, the team went 54-45 and finished third in its division.
“Joining the National Association of Professional Baseball represents an exciting next step for the Kane County Cougars and our community,” Curtis Haug, Cougars vice president and general manager, said in a news release. “We’re excited to begin this next chapter while continuing to build on the strong connection we have with our loyal fans and incredible partners.”
The Cougars and the Cleburne Railroaders of Texas bring the new league to 20 teams across the U.S. and Canada.
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