Chicago Dogs

Chicago Dogs
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassIndependent (2018–present)
LeagueAmerican Association of Professional Baseball (2018–present)
DivisionEast Division
Minor league titles
League titles none
Division titles (3)
  • 2021
  • 2022
  • 2023
Team data
ColorsLight blue, red, white
     
BallparkImpact Field
Owner/
Operator
Shawn Hunter
ManagerStan Cliburn
MediaAA Baseball TV
Websitethechicagodogs.com
The Chicago Dogs playing against the Sioux City Explorers at Impact Field in 2018

The Chicago Dogs are an independent professional baseball team based in the Chicago metropolitan area. They are members of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an official Partner League of Major League Baseball. They began play in 2018 and play home games at the 6,300-seat Impact Field. The team's branding alludes to the Chicago-style hot dog, a local street food.

History

2018

In 2018, their first year as a team, the Dogs' manager was Butch Hobson. Former Chicago White Sox minor league pitcher Josh Goossen-Brown was the first player signed by the Chicago Dogs. They finished the season in fourth place out of six teams in the American Association North Division with a record of 45–54.

2019

In 2019, Carlos Zambrano joined the Dogs' roster. Zambrano had pitched in the major leagues for 12 years, most of them as a member of the Chicago Cubs. Butch Hobson continued to serve as the team's manager. Keon Barnum hit 31 home runs, breaking a record held by C.J. Ziegler of Wichita in 2013. The Dogs finished the season in third place in the North Division with a record of 59–41.

2020

In 2020, the Dogs competed as one of six league teams in a condensed 60-game season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They were originally slated to play home games at Franklin Field (home of the Milwaukee Milkmen) due to capacity restrictions for outdoor events in Illinois. However, these restrictions were lifted on June 26 (as the state officially moved into Phase 4 of their reopening plan, allowing for outdoor spectator sports to resume at limited capacity) and thus enabled the Dogs to play all their home games at Impact Field.

2021

The Dogs won the North Division with a 63–37 record, clinching their first regular-season division title and playoff berth. They were eliminated by the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in the North Division Championship Series.

2022–2023

In 2022, the Dogs finished 54–46 and tied for first in the East Division. The following year, they finished 56–44 and shared the division lead, then advanced to the Miles Wolff Cup Finals, where they lost to the Kansas City Monarchs.

2025

Under manager Matt Passerelle, the Dogs finished 50–49 and placed second in the East Division. They swept the Lake Country DockHounds in the Division Series to reach the East Division Championship Series, where the Kane County Cougars won the deciding fifth game, 10–3.

Mascot

Squeeze, mascot of the Dogs, in 2019

The mascot of the Chicago Dogs is Squeeze, a fuzzy yellow creature who resembles a squeeze bottle of mustard.

Season-by-season records

Season League Division Record Div. Finish Ovr. Finish Win% Playoffs Manager
2018AANorth45–544th8th.455Did not qualifyButch Hobson
2019AANorth59–413rd3rd.590Did not qualifyButch Hobson
2020AAN/A26–326th6th.448Did not qualifyButch Hobson
2021AANorth63–371st2nd.630Lost Division Championship; Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
3–2		Butch Hobson
2022AAEast54–461st3rd.540Lost Division Series; Milwaukee Milkmen
2–1		Butch Hobson
2023AAEast56–441st2nd.560Won Division Series; Cleburne Railroaders
2–1
Won Division Championship; Milwaukee Milkmen
2–1
Lost Wolff Cup Finals;
Kansas City Monarchs
3–1		Butch Hobson
2024AAEast55–453rd5th.545Won Division Series; Cleburne Railroaders
2–1
Lost Division Championship; Kane County Cougars
2–0		Jeff Isom
2025AAEast50–492nd6th.505Won Division Series; Lake Country DockHounds
2–0
Lost Division Championship; Kane County Cougars
3–2		Matt Passerelle

Roster

Chicago Dogs roster
Active (25-man) roster Coaching staff

Pitchers

  • 35 John Baker
  • 12 Trey Braithwaite
  • 25 Keoni Cavaco
  • 99 Connor Curlis
  • 14 Zach Davidson
  • 36 Jacob DeLabio
  • 17 J.C. Keys
  • 37 Steven Lacey
  • 10 Eric Lin
  • 27 Dwayne Marshall
  • 16 Brady Miller
  • 29 Jack Nedrow
  • 33 Patrick Pridgen
  • 40 Anthony Ranaudo
  • 32 Bryce Schaum
  • 11 Michael Vallone

Catchers

Infielders

  • 20 Henry Kusiak
  • 19 Howard Rodriguez
  •  8 Dusty Stroup
  •  5 Jacob Teter
  •  4 Jaylyn Williams

Outfielders

Manager

  • -- Matt Passerelle

Coaches

  • 31 Stu Cliburn (pitching)
  • -- Owen Reith (bench)
  • -- Edgardo Lopez (clubhouse manager)
  • Injury icon Disabled list
  • ‡ Inactive list
  • § Suspended list
  • Roster updated August 23, 2025 Transactions

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "American Association of Independent Professional Baseball Official Colors (2006-present)". TruColor.net. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  2. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (September 24, 2020). "American Association, Frontier League now MLB Partner Leagues". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  3. ↑ Reichard, Kevin (July 28, 2017). "New for 2018: Chicago Dogs". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  4. ↑ Belzer, Jason (September 13, 2017). "A New Minor League Team Tries To Run With The Big Dogs In Chicago". Forbes. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  5. ↑ Bannon, Tim (July 28, 2017). "Rosemont's new baseball team gets a tasty name: Chicago Dogs". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Chicago Dogs to Play Ball in Rosemont". WBBM-TV/CBS Chicago. May 10, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  7. ↑ Selvam, Ashok (July 28, 2017). "Chicago's Love of Hot Dogs Inspires New Baseball Team's Name". Eater Chicago. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  8. ↑ "2018 American Association". Baseball Reference. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  9. ↑ Thompson, Phil (May 18, 2019). "Weather Delays His Return, but the Carlos Zambrano Effect Is in Full Force for the Independent Chicago Dogs". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  10. ↑ Kenney, Madeline (April 20, 2019). "After 44 Years in Baseball, Chicago Dogs Manager Hobson Wouldn't Change a Thing". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  11. ↑ "2019 American Association". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  12. ↑ "American Association unveils plans for 2020 season". americanassociationbaseball.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  13. ↑ "COVID-19 restrictions force Chicago Dogs to utilize Milwaukee Milkmen Stadium for 60-game baseball season". ABC7Chicago.com. June 13, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Dogs to Play All Home Games at Impact Field". thechicagodogs.com. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  15. ↑ "American Association Playoffs Set; Wild Card Games on Wednesday". American Association of Professional Baseball. September 7, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Dogs' Magical Season Ends with Fargo-Moorhead Comeback Win". Chicago Dogs. September 17, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  17. ↑ "2023 American Association Media Guide" (PDF). American Association of Professional Baseball. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  18. ↑ "2024 American Association Media Guide" (PDF). American Association of Professional Baseball. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Monarchs Claim Wolff Cup Championship". American Association of Professional Baseball. September 20, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  20. ↑ "2026 American Association Media Guide" (PDF). American Association of Professional Baseball. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Dogs move on after sweeping DockHounds". Chicago Dogs. September 6, 2025. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Kane County Cougars beat Chicago Dogs, take playoff series". Daily Herald. September 13, 2025. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
  23. ↑ Reaven, Steve (May 29, 2018). "Chicago Dogs Lose After Ninth-Inning Collapse, But Fans Are Winners at Impact Field". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  24. ↑ Bird, Hillary (July 9, 2018). "A Kid's Guide to a Chicago Dogs Baseball Game". Chicago Parent. Retrieved July 11, 2018.