KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Another season-long effort has come to fruition for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, the American Association Kansas City Monarchs, and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

Blue KC is donating $8,000 to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum as part of the ‘Homers for History’ campaign.

For every home run the Monarchs hit during the 2025 season, Blue KC donated $50. The Monarchs hit 108 home runs this season compared to the 88 home runs they hit in 2024. Blue KC has chosen to round up their donation this year.

The funds will go toward the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s “Pitch for the Future” capital campaign, raising money to build the nation’s only Negro Leagues campus. The project will include the Buck O’Neil Education and Research Center and a brand-new, state-of-the-art museum.

“Thanks to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and the Kansas City Monarchs for ‘knocking it out of the park,’ with this fun promotion,” said Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. “The financial support and awareness generated through this collaboration is incredibly valuable in our efforts to preserve and celebrate the rich history of the Negro Leagues.”

This marks the second year of the campaign in collaboration with Blue KC, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and the Kansas City Monarchs.

“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is excited to support the world’s only national museum dedicated to celebrating the history of African American baseball,” said Jenny Housley, Blue KC Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer. “We love being a part of our Kansas City community and preserving an iconic building through this ‘Homers for History’ campaign.”

The Monarchs finished their season strong, earning their spot in the Miles Wolff Cup Playoffs. They fell short in the first round against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

“We at the Monarchs are thrilled to help facilitate this great effort,” Monarchs owner Mark Brandmeyer said. “Our batters had another outstanding year, and it’s heartwarming to know that every one of our homers helped support the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and their Pitch for the Future campaign.”

The 2025 American Association Monarchs season officially ended on September 6th. Their new season will begin in May 2026.

About the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum:

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) is the world’s only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history of African American baseball and its impact on the social advancement of America. The privately funded, 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization was established in 1990 and is in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri’s Historic 18^th and Vine Jazz District. The NLBM operates two blocks from the Paseo YMCA where Andrew “Rube” Foster established the Negro National League in 1920.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, the largest not-for-profit health insurer in Missouri and the only not-for-profit commercial health insurer in Kansas City, has been part of the Kansas City community since 1938. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City provide health coverage services to more than one million residents in the greater Kansas City area, including Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas and 30 counties in Northwest Missouri. Their mission: to provide affordable access to healthcare and to improve the health of their members. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information on the company, visit its website at BlueKC.com

About the Kansas City Monarchs:

The Kansas City Monarchs are a professional baseball team in the American Association, an MLB Partner League. 2026 will be their 23rd season at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. In 2020, the team partnered with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and changed their name from the T-Bones to the Monarchs in honor of the legendary Negro League franchise that played from 1920 to 1965.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Yoyner Fajardo wrote himself into Kansas City Monarchs history in a season-saving performance.

Fajardo and the Monarchs put together a stellar rally in the bottom of the 15th inning. Fajardo scored the game-winning run in a 4-3 win over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

The win forces a win-or-go-home Game 3 on Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. Tickets are available at MonarchsBaseball.com.

The RedHawks snatched the lead in the top of the 15th inning. Aidan Byrne delivered a successful squeeze bunt to score Juan Fernandez. It was the first run for either team since the sixth inning. 

Eight Monarchs pitchers combined to keep the RedHawks quiet. Kansas City’s bullpen allowed just three hits in 9.2 innings.

Fajardo stepped in with a runner at second and one out. The former Minnesota Twins prospect stung an RBI double into the right-center field alley to knot the game at three.

“I was looking to be on time and find a pitch I could drive,” Fajardo said, translated from hitting coordinator Christian Colón. “I didn’t miss it.”

Fajardo moved up to third on a wild pitch by Fargo-Moorhead reliever Garrett Alexander (0-1).

With Jorge Bonifacio at third, Alexander spiked a breaking ball through Fernandez’ legs. Fajardo instinctively came home to end the marathon.

“I’m so thankful for the opportunity,” Fajardo said. “I felt like I was ready, got a good lead. It was a high-pressure situation, and I was ready.”

The game had fireworks within moments of getting underway. The teams cleared their respective benches after the second pitch. Monarchs third baseman Robbie Glendinning was ejected for arguing a call on an inning-ending double play in the 13th.

“The dugout was alive,” Fajardo said. “We kept the energy up, we were riding on every pitch.”

The teams traded blows throughout the early innings. Kansas City leaped ahead to a 2-0 lead off a Glendinning RBI single in the first and a Bonifacio double in the fourth.

Fargo-Moorhead tied the game in the sixth off a two-run home run from Jose Sermo.

UP NEXT

The Monarchs and RedHawks decide the Division Series on Saturday night. Ashton Goudeau starts for Kansas City against Fargo-Moorhead’s Tyler Jandron.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Two Kansas City Monarchs players have capped off great regular seasons with big-time awards.

Brantley Bell and Robbie Glendinning have both been named to the American Association’s Post-Season All-Star Team. Bell has been named the league’s second baseman of the year and Glendinning is this year’s AAPB utility player of the year.

The Monarchs (59-41) finished the regular season with the second-most wins in the league. Their first playoff game is Wednesday night in Fargo, followed by their home playoff opener Friday night at 6:35 p.m.

Glendinning has played with the Monarchs all season, contributing outstanding defense at third base, first base, right field and more.

The Australian leads Kansas City with 18 home runs, 75 RBIs and an .839 OPS (among batting title qualifiers).

Glendinning hails from Scarborough, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth. He put on a show at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, hitting two home runs with six RBIs over five games. A Pirates draft pick and former Royals prospect, Glendinning has reached Double-A in his affiliated career.

Acquired in a blockbuster deal from Chicago at the 2025 trade deadline, Bell has made an immediate impact in Kansas City. In eight games with the Monarchs, Bell is hitting .429 with three doubles and two RBIs.

The former Triple-A infielder finished the year with a .313 batting average and .850 OPS to go with 11 home runs and 14 stolen bases, all while playing great defense at second.

The son of World Series champion Jay Bell, Brantley is in his 11th professional season. He was an AAPB Mid-Season All-Star in 2024 and was Frontier League MVP in 2022 with the Tri-City ValleyCats.

The Monarchs will face the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in the best-of-three first round of the AAPB playoffs. Game 1 is Wednesday night in Fargo. Fans can hear the game on The Bet KC 1660 AM and watch on AABaseball.TV.