The 2026 Southern League was a Class AA baseball season that was played between April 3 and September 13. Eight teams played a 138-game schedule, with the top team in each division in each half of the season qualifying for the post-season.
Teams 2026 Southern League Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium North Birmingham Barons Birmingham, Alabama Chicago White Sox Regions Field Chattanooga Lookouts Chattanooga, Tennessee Cincinnati Reds Erlanger Park Knoxville Smokies Knoxville, Tennessee Chicago Cubs Covenant Health Park Rocket City Trash Pandas Madison, Alabama Los Angeles Angels Toyota Field South Biloxi Shuckers Biloxi, Mississippi Milwaukee Brewers Keesler Federal Park Columbus Clingstones Columbus, Georgia Atlanta Braves Synovus Park Montgomery Biscuits Montgomery, Alabama Tampa Bay Rays Dabos Park Pensacola Blue Wahoos Pensacola, Florida Miami Marlins Blue Wahoos Stadium
Map of teams
Regular season The Pensacola Blue Wahoos finished with the best record in the league for the first time since 2023.
Overall standings Final standings North Division Team Win Loss % GB Knoxville Smokies 73 64 – Rocket City Trash Pandas 72 65 1 Birmingham Barons 61 77 12.5 Chattanooga Lookouts 59 79 14.5South Division Team Win Loss % GB Pensacola Blue Wahoos 79 58 – Montgomery Biscuits 71 66 8 Biloxi Shuckers 66 68 11.5 Columbus Clingstones 64 68 12.5
First half standings Final first half standings North Division Team Win Loss % GB Knoxville Smokies 38 31 – Chattanooga Lookouts 37 32 1 Rocket City Trash Pandas 35 33 2.5 Birmingham Barons 26 43 12South Division Team Win Loss % GB Biloxi Shuckers 35 30 – Pensacola Blue Wahoos 36 33 1 Montgomery Biscuits 35 34 2 Columbus Clingstones 29 35 5.5
Second half standings Final second half standings North Division Team Win Loss % GB Rocket City Trash Pandas 37 32 – Knoxville Smokies 35 33 1.5 Birmingham Barons 35 34 2 Chattanooga Lookouts 22 47 15South Division Team Win Loss % GB Pensacola Blue Wahoos 43 25 – Montgomery Biscuits 36 32 7 Columbus Clingstones 35 33 8 Biloxi Shuckers 31 38 12.5
League leaders Batting leaders 2026 SL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed September 15, 2026 Stat Player Total AVG Blake Burke, Biloxi Shuckers .285 H Alex Ramírez, Knoxville Smokies 143 R Jesús Made, Biloxi Shuckers 87 2B Nick Rodriguez, Rocket City Trash Pandas 31 3B Brendan Jones, Pensacola Blue Wahoos 8 HR Alec Briley, Birmingham Barons Blake Burke, Biloxi Shuckers Jordan Groshans, Columbus Clingstones 30 RBI Jesús Made, Biloxi Shuckers Will Simpson, Montgomery Biscuits 91 SB Dylan O'Rae, Biloxi Shuckers 63
Pitching leaders 2026 SL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed September 15, 2026 Stat Player Total W Manuel Rodriguez, Biloxi Shuckers 13 ERA Garrett Edwards, Montgomery Biscuits 4.33 CG Kevin Abel, Chattanooga Lookouts Garrett Baumann, Columbus Clingstones Jaron DeBerry, Biloxi Shuckers Michael Forret, Montgomery Biscuits TJ Nichols, Montgomery Biscuits Javier Rivera, Chattanooga Lookouts Alex Williams, Pensacola Blue Wahoos 1 SHO Jaron DeBerry, Biloxi Shuckers Javier Rivera, Chattanooga Lookouts 1 SV Luke Murphy, Rocket City Trash Pandas 18 IP Manuel Rodriguez, Biloxi Shuckers 133.0 SO Jaron DeBerry, Biloxi Shuckers 138
Playoffs The Rocket City Trash Pandas won their first Southern League championship, defeating the Biloxi Shuckers in three games.
Playoff bracket
Semi-finals (N1) Knoxville Smokies vs. (N2) Rocket City Trash Pandas
(S1) Biloxi Shuckers vs. (S2) Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Finals (S1) Biloxi Shuckers vs. (N2) Rocket City Trash Pandas
Awards Southern League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Blake Burke, Biloxi Shuckers Pitcher of the Year Eliazar Dishmey, Pensacola Blue Wahoos Top MLB Prospect Award Jesús Made, Biloxi Shuckers Manager of the Year Nelson Prada, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
See also 2026 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website