Catcher Returns For 2026 Season
Kansas City, KS — Ryan Leitch, who caught 60 games in 2025 for the Kansas City Monarchs, is returning to Legends Field for 2026. Leitch hit 6 home runs including a game winning walk off versus Gary, added 26 RBI hitting at a .235 clip over the course of the season.
9th year Manager Joe Calfapietra said “Ryan is an exciting catcher, and we are happy to have him back. He knows Legends Field and the League – he was a loyal player for us on a good 2025 team.”
Leitch is a former Philadelphia Phillies prospect who joined the Monarchs before Training Camp in 2025
The Whitby, Ontario native represented Team Canada in the WBSC under 18 Baseball World Cup in 2019.
The four-time league champion Monarchs will open their 2026 season on May 15 at Kane County with Opening Night at Legends Field being Tuesday May 19 at 6:35 p.m. versus the Chicago Dogs. To view the full schedule, fans can visit monarchsbaseball.com/schedule. Tickets for the 2026 season are on sale now.
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.
