The Willmar Rails are stepping up to the plate with a fresh look in 2026, returning to Class B baseball with renewed energy and a key arm back in the rotation. After a year of transition, the team is poised for a comeback season that has fans buzzing.
At the helm is new manager Gunnar Banks, a 2019 Willmar High School graduate and longtime Rails player. He takes over from Dustin Overcash, who resigned after eight seasons. "I think it's like a rebuild," Banks said, acknowledging the shift in leadership. "Dustin ran it for eight years, so it's going to be a little different." But with a core of familiar faces and a major addition, the Rails are ready to write a new chapter.
The biggest headline? Christian Lessman is back on the mound. The 24-year-old right-hander missed the entire 2025 season after Tommy John surgery, but when healthy, he's one of the top pitchers in the Corn Belt League. Banks is banking on a return to form for the former St. Cloud State standout, and his presence should take pressure off a pitching staff that already includes Jayden Dierenfeld, Adam Herman, Jordan Steffer, Cullen Gregory, Jack Baumgart, and Zach Reierson. Zak Madsen also returns after a year off, adding depth to the rotation.
Largely, the roster remains intact from last season, giving Banks a stable foundation. "Really, it's not a whole lot different," he said of the lineup. The Rails have added a couple of high school talents, including Hudson Sjoberg and Griffin Banks—Gunnar's younger brother. Another sibling, Gavin Banks, is also on the roster, making for a family affair in Willmar.
The team is deeply rooted in local talent, with players like Connor Smith, Tyler Madsen, Mason Thole, Ashton Gregory, and Sergio Fernandez all hailing from the Willmar area. Daniel Overcash, a Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg graduate and the former manager's son, joins Cody Hohl to round out the squad.
The Rails open their Corn Belt season on Friday, May 12, at 7:30 p.m. against the Marshall Athletics at Marshall's Legion Field. They've already shown promise in an exhibition game, defeating Hutchinson 7-3 last Friday. Banks is aiming high, with goals that extend beyond the regular season. "Our goal is to win the Corn Belt," he said, though he acknowledges the challenge: "Obviously, our league is pretty tough."
This season, the Rails are in District 8B alongside Bird Island, Raymond, Marshall, the Willmar Indians from the Corn Belt League, and the Janesville Gators from the 13/60 League. Only two teams will earn berths to the state Class B tournament, which will be held in Chaska, Jordan, New Prague, and Shakopee. Banks believes his squad has the talent to contend, not just in the Corn Belt, but for a state tournament spot.
Last year, the Rails were moved to Class A after a massive reshuffling of Minnesota's amateur baseball classes, a result of a paperwork snafu. Now back in Class B, they're hungry to prove themselves. With a healthy Lessman, a familiar roster, and a new manager's vision, the Willmar Rails are ready to swing for the fences in 2026.