First Pitch Arizona 2026 - Program
Updated: 9/15/26
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5
| 1:00-4:00p | XFL Draft - Experts Keeper League | |
| 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 | 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 | - |
| 8:45-10:00p | Podcast Room 1 | TBD |
| 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; what we learned | Steve Gardner, TBD |
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 | TBD |
| 10:30-11:30a | Early-Round Rebounds Will 2026's early-round flops rise again? | TBD |
| 11:30-12:45p | Podcast Room 2 | |
| 11:40-12:40p | Friday breakouts #1 - CHOOSE ONE | |
| AI for Content Creators | Todd Zola, TBD | |
| 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 A timed, whole-room auction 2026 retro league where a panel chooses player nominations. If it sounds chaotic, wait until you try it! More to come .. | Ron Shandler, TBD |
| 1:45-2:45p | Lessons from Shortened MLB Seasons | Matt Martingale |
| 2:15-3:30p | Podcast Room 3 | |
| 3:00-3:45 | Breakout session TBD | |
| 3:45-5:00p | Podcast Room 4 | |
| 4:00-5:00p | Breakout session TBD | |
| 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; what we learned | Steve Gardner, TBD |
| 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 5 | |
| 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 | 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: Pitchers | Panelists: TBA; Moderator: Ryan Bloomfield |
| 9:20-10:20a | Player Spotlights: Hitters | Panelists: TBA; 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 | 2026 Rookies for Redraft Leagues Which prospects have the best chance of making an impact in 2027? Our panel will discuss… | TBD |
| Dinner on your own | ||
| Saturday Evening Hangouts - CHOOSE FROM: | ||
| 6:30p | AFL Home Run Derby | |
| 7:30-8:45p | Podcast Room 6 | |
| 9:00-10:30 | Pallazzo Podcast Presents: Fantasy Family Feud Pallazzo Podcast crew hosts an interactive fantasy game show will combine popular content providers and you! Signup details to come … | Michael Govier, Sam Wirsching, Britton Allan |
| 9:15-10:30 | Rules Forum Q&A | Ron Shandler |
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8
| 8:30-9:15a | Sunday breakouts - CHOOSE ONE | |
| 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 | TBA |
| 11:55-12p | Final Wrap-up | Hershey/Murphy |
| 6:00-9:00p | AFL Fall Stars Game | |