Stuttgart, Germany – The second season of the Deutsche Baseball Liga (DBL) kicks off this week and the Stuttgart Reds face a formidable challenge right out of the gate: a two-game series against the defending German champions, Heidenheim Heideköpfe. The first home game for the Reds is scheduled for Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 1:00 PM local time (13:00 CEST) at the TVC Ballpark in Cannstatt, Stuttgart.
The Stuttgart Reds, representing TV Cannstatt, finished their inaugural DBL season in fourth place in the six-team Southern Group. While an improvement over previous years, Heidenheim and Regensburg remained dominant forces. Gauting also secured a spot just ahead of the Reds, finishing third.
New DBL Format Aims for Competitive Balance
The 2026 DBL season introduces a new structure designed to increase competition and excitement. Following the regular season, the top three teams from both the Northern and Southern groups will participate in an interleague round. The remaining teams will compete in a “Wildcard Race” for the final playoff spots. This dual-track system will determine the seeding for the playoffs, which begin on August 15th with quarterfinal matchups in a best-of-five format. The semifinals are slated for August 29th, culminating in the German Championship series starting on September 12th, 2026.
Austin Bull Leads Stuttgart Reds into New Season
Austin Bull will continue to manage the Stuttgart Reds, having taken over the role mid-season in 2025 from Ryan Ford. Bull will also serve as a player, anchoring the shortstop position for his third year with the team. He’ll be supported by Team Manager Heiko Witt and Youth Coordinator Xavi Gonzalez.
International Talent Bolsters Reds Roster
The Reds have added two international players to strengthen their roster. Arnad Mulamekic, a 22-year-old left-handed pitcher, brings experience from four years of collegiate baseball in the United States (Siena and Wichita State) and a strong performance in the Western Australian State League, where he recorded 76 strikeouts in 42.2 innings pitched. Shogo Ichimura, a 26-year-old Japanese player, joins the team as a catcher after playing for the Wiener Neustadt Diving Ducks, the Austrian champions, in 2024 and the Neunkirchen Nightmares in 2024. Bull, who played with Ichimura in Italy last year, praised his “hard work and great energy.” Ichimura is expected to contribute at multiple infield positions as well.
Pitching and Infield Stability for the Reds
Behind the plate, Bull will look to Yannick Witt, Frido Fink, and Robert Blesing, with Laszlo Hellwig providing depth from the second team. The pitching staff will largely feature homegrown talent, including Jonathan and Benedikt Schäffer, Joel Petzold, Moritz van Bergen, and Yannick Witt, alongside Arnad Mulamekic and Lucas Traut. The development of these pitchers is highlighted by the fact that Joni, Joel, and Moritz all represented the U23 National Team last year.
The infield remains largely unchanged from 2025. National team player Moritz Köhler will be the primary third baseman. Shogo Ichimura and Yannick Witt, also a national team member, provide versatility at shortstop and second base. Austin Bull has several options at first base, including Danilo Weber, Moritz van Bergen, Lucas Traut, and Ramon Uhl. Joni Schäffer’s ability to play both pitcher and infield adds further flexibility.
The outfield will feature Jonas van Bergen, his brother Moritz, Jannik Denz, Benedikt Schäffer, Lucas Traut, and Fabian Beck.
Heidenheim Heideköpfe: A Proven Championship Contender
The Stuttgart Reds face a tough test in their season opener against the Heidenheim Heideköpfe, who are preparing for the WBSC Baseball European Championship, according to recent news from the team. Logan Hofmann of the Heideköpfe was named the Best Pitcher in the South in 2025. The Heideköpfe are a perennial powerhouse in the DBL, consistently competing for the championship title.
The Reds will then travel to Stuttgart on April 11, 2026, for a 1:00 PM (13:00 CEST) matchup. Following these games, the Reds will host the München-Haar Disciples on April 18th and 19th, and then travel to face the Guggenberger Legionäre on April 24th and 25th. They return home to host the Gauting Indians on May 1st and 2nd.
Tickets for the home games at the HellensteinEnergie Ballpark are available at the gate: €10 for adults, €7 for concession, and €20 for a family ticket (2 adults + all children). Season tickets are also available for €125 (adults) and €75 (concession). No reservations are accepted, and tickets are sold one hour before game time.
The Stuttgart Reds’ season opener against the Heidenheim Heideköpfe promises to be an exciting start to the 2026 DBL season. Fans can expect a competitive matchup between two of the league’s top teams.
For more information, visit the Stuttgart Reds official website: https://www.stuttgart-reds.de/index.php/baseball/1-baseball-bundesliga
