The Charlotte Knights went 81-68 and tied for second in the International League East, but missed the playoffs by five games in the first half and 5½ in the second half. Their record improved from 65-85 in 2025, while their run differential swung from -100 to +126.
First baseman Ryan Galanie hit .283/.343/.516 with a career-high 19 home runs for Charlotte. Leadoff hitter Rikku Nishida batted .289 with a .422 on-base percentage. Reliever Jairo Iriarte posted an ERA below 3.00 and held hitters to a .207 average; Garrett Schoenle finished with a 3.12 ERA.
Rochester led the East with 90 wins, while Syracuse and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre each won more than 77. The review says promotions the previous season had depleted Charlotte’s talent pool; arrivals from High-A and Double-A strengthened the roster in 2026. David Sandlin and Sam Antonacci made their mark with the White Sox, and the author sees Charlotte as well positioned to be the team to beat in 2027.
