12/20/2025
BREAKING NEWS . . .
The promise was to introduce the entire 2026 Expos team by the end of the year. The 9 returning players have already been individually introduced over the past three months . . . now we present the 9 "new" players that will proudly don the iconic "black & blue" Expos uniform.
Just like our United States Military . . .
"The uniform is a symbol of honor and tradition, of esprit de corps and morale, and of personal excellence and pride."
These 9 players will complete the Expos 18-man roster for 2026.
NOTE: The team could add a 19th player but it is unlikely. If they do it would probably be a pitcher to help with their intense game schedule and high level competition.
Last summer the Expos played the season with 25 players on their roster. It was obviously successful since they finished the season with a record breaking 68-12 record, which included going 16-0 in Montana and winning three high level tournaments in a row.
Cutting back to only 18 rostered players is risky, but the coaches feel fewer is better with this particular group . . . the goal is to ensure the younger guys get ample playing time, thus enabling them to be solid contributors in 2026 and elite mainstays in 2027.
Last year the team had four players who went up to bat well over 200 times, that is remarkable. The record is 255 plate appearances, with 300 within the realm of possibility.
So without further ado . . .
Let's welcome the 9 newest members of the 2026 Expos Baseball team!
Dylan Frank #19
Dylan Eddings #12
Dylan Pineda #27
Sage Nelson #8
Ryan Watson #2
Jason Hall #4
Robert Ayers Jr. #23
Javon Haynes #7
Griffin Doty #16
The Expos coaching staff is excited about the potential in these 9 young men.
The teams in California are being put on notice . . . When these 9 studs blend in with the 9 returners from the 2025 team the result could be really special!
Manager Brad Hanson says this group is the best group of new players added to any of his previous teams over the past 50 years of manning the helm.
The team needs were simple and this group fills those needs very nicely.
The team needed to overhaul their catching and add quality depth . . . returner Gibby Gibson did a great job in 2025, but he was needed to catch too much and his skills at other positions needed to be developed . . . Now those skills can bloom, while still being a key catcher.
The outfield lost two great players in Noah Rodda and Seth Tjaden, both aged out and will be 20 years old in 2026. This new group of players replenished the outfield with outstanding young talent. Defensively the 2026 outfield might be the best in several years.
The need for pitching is always there and the coaches feel they garnered a windfall of good young pitchers. They picked up 4 guys who will have huge roles on the mound in 2026.
QUICK OVERVIEW:
DYLAN FRANK - He was the Expos primary target from day 1.
The Expos lost their entire starting outfield and graduating guys like Noah Rodda and Seth Tjaden were going to be very hard to replace . . . Dylan was the cornerstone they needed and then they built from there. He is expected to be a strong contributor in 2026 with a powerful bat and extraordinary athleticism, speed and strength. The perfect attitude for the Expos culture.
He's the prototype of leading by example and speak softly but carry a big stick . . . The burning desire to excel radiates from him.
DYLAN EDDINGS - He is a big flame thrower, at 6'4" and 200+ lbs., who will compliment returning ace Nolan Collins, both touch 90mph with their fastballs. Dylan will not only be in the starting rotation he will also serve as a depth piece at both third base and first base along with some DH duty. He's another role model player who will fit in with the team like a glove.
Dylan could be "The Guy" when there's a big game against a team like Texas!
DYLAN PINEDA - He is another big guy on the mound standing at 6'2' and weighing 235 lbs. His fastball isn't elite but his ability to get batters out is real. He was the only pitcher on the younger TC farm team who really silenced the Expos bats when the older Expos scrimmaged their younger brothers.
One of his most impressive games for the 17u TC team last season was a 1-0 win over the powerful Napa team . . . That got noticed by the Expos staff.
He has a lot of potential and hopefully it will surface in big ways during the 2026 season.
He was the most important young pitcher on the Expos radar . . . Now let's see if the coaches were correct in their assessment of him and his potential to develop into an ace.
The current plan is to put him into the rotation and let him work hard at reaching the potential he possesses.
SAGE NELSON - This might prove to be the best addition of all. Sage is a veteran player who is an excellent catcher, but more importantly can play other positions with great skill, confidence and competence. His versatility will be a tremendous asset while playing the toughest of schedules with the minimum of players rostered. The hope is he can anchor one of the top four spots in the batting order. He's not super fast, but his baseball acumen allows him to steal bases and he is a great baserunner.
Once again a player who fits perfectly into the Expos team culture . . . He will impact the 2026 team in numerous ways.
RYAN WATSON - He will be utilized primarily as a pitcher in key situations. He's a strike thrower who keeps batters off balance. He's had some impressive outings in high school and there's no reason to believe anything will change in the summer. He will most likely be a middle reliever and a spot starter. That is a difficult role, but he is mentally tough and should flourish.
Ryan can also help the team in the infield and as a hitter. The hope is his quick bat will result in key hits in critical situations.
He's yet another player who brings his best everyday and the results speak volumes.
JASON HALL - This is a young man who impressed the coaches as soon as they saw him swing his left-handed bat against live pitching. To put it bluntly, he has the potential to be a dynamic game changer with his ability to hit the ball hard.
He will be worked with as a LHP and as an outfielder, but if he swings the bat as well as anticipated he will force his way into the lineup somewhere.
His potential as a pitcher is "yet to be determined" but if he can do it that will lead to an expanded role.
ROBERT AYERS JR. - This young man can pitch. He's not a flame thrower, but he's crafty and throws strikes. He is the type of pitcher the coaches love . . . He's not fancy, he just gets the job done on a continual basis.
The anticipation is that he will be in the starting rotation with occasional closing opportunities.
Do not be surprised if he excels for the Expos in 2026 . . . He might even challenge to be the #1 or #2 guy . . . ?
The coaches like him a lot.
JAVON HAYNES - It took 10 minutes for manager Brad Hanson to see this young man's potential in the outfield is special. He has what can't be taught . . . Great instincts and anticipation!
Couple that with elite quickness, great speed and excellent ball tracking ability and you have the makings of a premier outfielder. He understands the need to continue to work on his hitting, but if you can steal a couple of doubles from the opposition with your glove you have accomplished as much as hitting two doubles.
The hitting will come as he gets older because he's willing to put in the time . . . His work right now, in the batting cage, is already paying dividends.
Javon is going to be a special player and the coaches are excited to help him become the best he can be.
GRIFFIN DOTY - He will be the youngest player in Expos history to be on their 18-man roster. Griffin is only a high school freshman, but he made the 19u Expos who are predominantly made up of graduating seniors and college freshmen.
Manager Brad Hanson loves his potential, saying he's the best defensively he's seen at his age since Carter Bins . . . Carter graduated from the Expos in 2016 and went on to be the starting catcher at Fresno State University and play for several years on the Pittsburgh Pirates AAA team.
Griffin will catch and learn to play third base. He may also get a chance to pitch a few innings.
The Expos coaches feel the experience will in itself help him a lot, but they will make it a point to get him on the field as he develops. Catching pitchers who can top 90mph is the experience young guys need, along with facing those same type pitchers in real games that matter.
This young man is going to be a good one . . . The type you don't come across often. He's very mature for his age.
SUMMARY:
The Expos coaching staff is ecsstatic with the new guys . . . there isn't anybody out there they would rather have . . . truly the "Best of the Best!"
"LET'S GO EXPOS!"
