First Pitch Arizona 2026 - Program
Updated: 10/11/26
Program details subject to change.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5
| 1:00-4:00p | XFL Draft Follow along with your favorite writers at the industry’s first experts keeper league, now in its 25th season | Ron Shander, league founder and auctioneer |
| 1:30-4:30p | Registration/Check-in | BaseballHQ staff |
| 2:15-3:15p | Thursday breakouts #1 - CHOOSE ONE | |
| Rostering Relievers for Holds, Ratios and Ks How to find, who to roster, when to employ | Mike Carter, Rick Graham | |
| Draft and Hold Primer | TBD | |
| 3:30-4:15p | Thursday breakouts #2 - CHOOSE ONE | |
| 2026: Statistical Year in Review | Ray Murphy, Kyle Bland, TBD | |
| First Time at First Pitch? A Weekend Q&A Get your bearings—and your questions answered | BHQ staff | |
| 5:30-7:30p | Welcome Reception (at Peoria Sports Complex) Appetizers and cash bar | |
| 6:30-9:00 | AFL Game - Salt River at Peoria | |
| Thursday Evening Hangouts - CHOOSE FROM: | ||
| 8:45-10:30 | Attendee Gladiator Draft 1 NFBC 15-team 2027 draft-and-hold competition. Signup info to come … | |
| 8:45-10:00p | Podcast Room 1 | |
| 9:30-10:30p | Prospect Q&A Hour Bring your prospect questions! | Eric Longenhagen, TBD |
| 9:30-10:30p | Only-Leagues Focus: AL Experts leagues (Tout+LABR) recap; plus 2026 deep AL-only-league takeaways | Steve Gardner, Dave Adler, Tristan Cockcroft, James Anderson, Jeff Winnick, Andy Andres |
| 9:30-10:30p | Why Fantasy Baseball Matters Discuss what keeps fantasy baseball “fun” with all the alternatives and everything else happening around us | Chad Young, Niv Shah, Justin Mason |
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6
| 8:00-8:10a | Welcome and Introductions | Brent Hershey, Ray Murphy |
| 8:10-9:00a | Opening Address | Ron Shandler |
| 9:00-10:15a | Arizona Fall League Scouting Report AFL players you need to know this weekend | Eric Longenhagen, TBD |
| 10:00-11:15p | Podcast Room 2 | |
| 10:30-11:30a | Early-Round Rebounds Will 2026's early-round flops rise again? | Derek VanRiper, Brian Entrekin, TBD |
| 11:30-12:45p | Podcast Room 3 | |
| 11:40-12:40p | Friday breakouts #1 - CHOOSE ONE | |
| AI for Content Creators | Todd Zola, Jason Collette, Justin Mason | |
| Common Auction Mistakes Two respected auction players show us what to avoid in the bidding | Mike Mager, Ariel Cohen | |
| Scoresheet Meetup/Q&A Bring your Scoresheet questions | John Kracum | |
| TBD | ||
| Lunch on your own | ||
| 1:30p | AFL Game - Mesa at Peoria | |
| 1:30-3:30p | The Arizona Challenge Draft against the clock in this 2026 retro auction, where you must fill at least half your roster but are at the mercy of the Evil Panel, which controls all nominations. It’s invigorating chaos! | Ron Shandler, Todd Zola, Brian Walton |
| 1:45-2:45p | Lessons from Shortened MLB Seasons | Matt Martingale |
| Ottoneu Meetup/Q&A | Niv Shah, Chad Young | |
| 2:15-3:30p | Podcast Room 4 | |
| 3:00-3:45 | Bat Speed Gainers, 2026 | Joe Orrico, TBD |
| TBD | ||
| 3:45-5:00p | Podcast Room 5 | |
| 4:00-5:00p | What Actually Wins a Fantasy Baseball Auction? Projection systems, nomination oder, spending patterns and more: Evidence from thousands of simulated drafts | David Nickell |
| How I Break Down a Starting PItcher Pitch mix, mechanics, delivery, sequencing—one man's menu of evaluating a starting pitcher | Nick Pollack | |
| Friday breakouts #2 - CHOOSE ONE | ||
| 5:00-5:45p | ADP: When to Listen, When to Ignore | Rob Silver |
| 5:00-6:00p | Only-Leagues Focus: NL Experts leagues (Tout+LABR) recap; plus 2026 deep NL-only-league takeaways | Steve Gardner, Brian Walton, Frank Stampfl, Matt Cederholm, Doug Dennis, Derek Carty |
| 5:00-6:00p | Are We Looking at Pitching Command All Wrong? Re-examining what we thought we knew about command | Eric Samulski |
| 5:00-6:00p | Strat-O-Matic Meetup/Q&A Bring your Strat questions and chatter! | Dean Peterson |
| Dinner on your own | ||
| 6:30-9:00p | AFL Game - Glendale at Scottsdale | |
| Friday Evening Post-Game Hangouts - CHOOSE FROM: | ||
| 8:45-10:00p | Podcast Room 6 | |
| 8:30-10:00p | AI Office Hours A drop-in, interactive, how-to workshop on engaging AI for fantasy. Bring your laptop and let's ask some questions | Ray Murphy, TBD |
| 9:30-10:30 | Lessons from the 2026 NFBC | TBD |
| 9:30-10:30p | The Dynasty Blueprint / Q&A How to build your dynasty squad | TBD |
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7
| 8:00-8:10a | Saturday intro/Housekeeping | Hershey/Murphy |
| 8:10-9:10a | Player Spotlights: Hitters | Panelists: Jeff Erickson, Eric Samulski, Eric Karabell, Chris Towers; Moderator: Ryan Bloomfield |
| 9:20-10:20a | Player Spotlights: Pitchers | Panelists: Paul Sporer, Nick Pollack, Sara Sanchez, Derek Carty; Moderator: Ryan Bloomfield |
| 10:30-11:30a | Bullpen Hour The 2027 saves landscape and Q&A session | Doug Dennis, Greg Jewett |
| 11:15-12:30p | Live Podcast: Rates & Barrels | Derek VanRiper, Eno Sarris |
| 12:30-1:30p | Buffet Lunch | |
| 1:15-2:00p | Bring-your-own Roster Analysis Get a second opinion on your home league roster - keepers, trade targets, strengths/weaknesses, more | BHQ staff |
| 2:00p | FIRST PITCH ARIZONA DRAFTERNOON Real 2027 standalone leagues, real prizes, a ton of fun. Signup details to come … | |
presented by:  | NFBC Draft Champions #1 | |
| NFBC Draft Champions #2 | ||
| NFBC Best Ball | ||
| Mixed Auction | ||
| Scoresheet | ||
| 5:00-6:00p | 2027 Rookies for Redraft Leagues Which prospects have the best chance of making an impact in 2027? Our panel will discuss… | Jesse Severe, Eric Cross, Chris Welsh |
| Dinner on your own | ||
| Saturday Evening Hangouts - CHOOSE FROM: | ||
| 6:00-7:15p | Podcast Room 7 | |
| 6:30p | AFL Home Run Derby at Salt River Fields | |
| 7:30-8:45p | Podcast Room 8 | |
| 9:00-10:30 | Dugout Duels An interactive fantasy game show that will combine popular content providers and you! Signup details to come … | Sam Wirsching |
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8
| 8:30-9:15a | Sunday breakouts - CHOOSE ONE | |
| Rules Forum / Q&A Discussion on several rule proposals that the XFL league considered this year. Plus a brainstorming session on how to find more immediate gratification in full-season leagues. | Ron Shandler | |
| TBD | ||
| 9:20-9:30a | Sunday Housekeeping | Hershey/Murphy |
| 9:30-10:30a | Injuries: Facts and Analysis Who is healing … and who might not be | Matt Cederholm |
| 10:40-11:55a | Scout talk | Derek VanRiper, TBA |
| 11:55-12p | Final Wrap-up | Hershey/Murphy |
| 6:00-9:00p | AFL Fall Stars Game at Salt River Fields | |
Program details subject to change.