Regensburg Ready to Compete: With a revamped coaching staff, a strong core of Regensburg players, and targeted additions from abroad, the Guggenberger Legionäre are gearing up for the 2026 Baseball-Bundesliga (DBL) season.
The runner-up finish in 2025 wasn’t enough to satisfy Head Coach Matt Vance. “I don’t want to stop as a runner-up,” Vance said following the championship loss. The goal for 2026 is clearly defined: “The goal is clearly the championship.” And with the Legionäre qualifying for the Baseball European Champions League through their final appearance, Vance adds, “We basically get to play for two titles now, and we’re particularly excited about that. Especially because we get to play in the Champions League in front of our own fans.”
Gienger Joins as Assistant Coach
To achieve these goals, Vance has not only adjusted the roster but also restructured his coaching team. Former national team player Markus Gienger joins the team as Assistant Coach, bringing years of experience as a player at the highest levels. Vance expressed his enthusiasm for the appointment, recalling his first season playing in Regensburg during a recent sponsor event. Gienger was the catcher then, and after assisting as a player last year, he’s now fully on board as a coach. This decision was a key one for Vance this season.
Lenin Santa Cruz returns as First Base Coach, known for the energy he brings to the team. Philipp Hoffschild, a long-time national team player and one of the most accomplished German pitchers of his generation, will also provide support during training. Vance has successfully re-integrated another familiar face. Devon Ramirez is also part of the coaching staff, but will primarily function as a player during the season.
Core of the Team Remains Intact
The team’s sporting core remains stable. Vance speaks of a “Core Group” – players like Alex Schmidt, Christian Pedrol, Nino Sacasa, and Elias von Garßen form the backbone of the Legionäre. “It’s extremely important to keep this group together,” he says. At the same time, Vance is opening the door for Regensburg’s youth players. “In the long term, they need the experience at the highest level.” Julian Siegert-Bomhard, 19, exemplifies this path: from the Legionäre Academy to the German U18 national team and now to the DBL roster. Catcher Domenic Rauwolf and infielder Norwin Staps, both with international experience, also join the team, along with pitcher Felix Bock from the Bavarian Baseball Academy.
Vance has specifically addressed the foreign pitcher position, which showed weaknesses in 2025. Leeroy Tavarez, 23, a former Division-1 pitcher from the United States with a fastball reaching 95 mph, is expected to make a difference. “We need to ensure our staff can handle both competitions,” Vance says. Adding to the pitching depth is Quentin Moulin, a 24-year-old right-hander from France, who was named Pitcher of the Week during last season’s semi-final against Regensburg. The roster could still see additions before the start of the season.
Addressing Departures
Two players who significantly impacted the 2025 season have departed. Morgan McCullough will not return to Regensburg. Simon Bäumer has also decided to move on, joining the Bonn Capitals after just one year in Regensburg. Bäumer had a strong season in Regensburg, posting a .420 batting average (second in the Southern Division), 49 RBIs (first), and a 1.328 OPS. He was twice named Player of the Week and nominated for the MVP South award. Vance regrets Bäumer’s departure. “He’s a good player and a good guy. We would have liked to have kept him, we showed him a long-term perspective. But he made a different decision.”
With Bäumer and McCullough gone, Regensburg will be without their top two hitters from last season, statistically. However, Vance emphasizes what holds the team together – beyond the statistics. He recalls that after last year’s championship loss, the group immediately supported each other. “That was what was special about this group, they became a family.” General Manager Tomas Bison sees this as the foundation for 2026: “The synergy worked, and our focus now is on preserving the team chemistry and gradually bringing local players up through the ranks.”
CEO Armin Zimmermann speaks of a “very good mix of experienced players and young talent” and highlights that the additions from the Regensburg youth system speak to the quality of baseball in the region. For Matt Vance, one thing is clear: the final step that was missing in 2025 must be achieved in 2026.
The Guggenberger Legionäre will begin their quest for the 2026 DBL championship and a deep run in the Baseball European Champions League with a renewed sense of purpose and a blend of experience and emerging talent. Fans in Regensburg will be eager to see how this new chapter unfolds at the Armin-Wolf-Arena.
