Grab your peanuts and Cracker Jacks and enjoy America’s pastime with Reno’s own Triple-A baseball team, the Reno Aces. The team has become a spring and summer staple of the Biggest Little City, with a recently renewed contract committing the team to stay in Reno through 2049.
This season is one you don’t want to miss. With themed nights each homestand and firework displays on Friday nights, Aces baseball offers unique, family-friendly fun, bringing the community together like only baseball can. The 2026 season has started with the largest turnout in franchise history, and with good reason. The players are talented, friendly, and ready to inspire. Get to know a few of them—and be sure to grab tickets for this unforgettable season.
A.J. Vukovich – Outfielder
For A.J. Vukovich, baseball started early, and he was a natural. Growing up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he picked up a bat at just 4 years old, playing in his backyard and mimicking stances of professional players he looked up to. By 7, he was on teams, and before long, he joined a travel ball team, competing across the Midwest in tournaments.
“I just loved it and would spend hours throwing the ball to myself and practicing hitting,” he says. “Looking back, those are really fun memories and I’m grateful to my mom for taking me all over to compete.”
Now in his second full season with the Aces after being called up to Reno in 2024, Vukovich is focused on growth—both as a player and as a professional. He spends his off-season in Arizona, staying close to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ facilities to keep his skills sharp and his mindset locked in.
Life with the Aces, he says, is something special, especially in a city like Reno.
“The fans really like the team,” he says. “It’s cool to see Aces memorabilia around town in restaurants. Nights like the 4th of July game and Mother’s Day with the big crowds—you can really feel how much the people care and enjoy it.”
For young players dreaming of following his footsteps, Vukovich emphasizes mindset and resilience over anything else.
“If your gut tells you to do something, go all in,” he says. “Challenge yourself, get out of your comfort zone, ask questions, and lean on people who support you.”
That perspective has come full circle. Once inspired by players like fellow Wisconsin native Gavin Lux, Vukovich now recognizes his own role as someone younger athletes look up to.
“It’s cool to be in that leadership position now,” he says.
His long-term career goal is clear: reaching the big leagues. But just as important is how he gets there.
“I want to be the best version of myself every single day,” he says. "I want to look back and know I did everything I could to improve.”
Kristian Robinson – Outfielder
Kristian Robinson’s path to professional baseball began far from the bright stadium lights in U.S. baseball parks. Growing up in the Bahamas, he developed a love for the game through his family by watching games alongside his dad and older brother, and by playing outdoors whenever he could.
Opportunities to see Major League Baseball in person were rare, but impactful.
“I remember going to a Tampa Bay Rays game on family vacation back in 2010,” he says. “I still remember moments from that game.”
He started playing T-ball around age 5, but didn’t fully commit to baseball until his early teens. From there, his journey took him to the United States, where he joined travel teams, competing in Ohio and Florida, and trained in an academy setting. Those experiences pushed him both athletically and personally.
“It was a cultural adjustment,” he says. “Being away from family was, and is, tough, but it helped me understand the level of professional baseball play I needed to reach.”
Now entering a full season with the Aces after joining the team in July 2025, Robinson describes the experience as a bit surreal.
“There’s the reality of being an athlete and wanting to perform, but there’s also the moment when kids come up and look at you like you’re someone special,” he says. “That’s something I don’t take lightly.”
That genuine connection is something that he feels and embraces when meeting fans, especially the kids who run over for autographs.
“Be grateful for the people who brought you to the games,” he says, regarding advice he wants to share with fans. “These moments at the game with people who care about you are ones you’ll remember.”
His advice for aspiring players is rooted in discipline and belief.
“I’m a big believer in hard work and having big ambitions,” he says. “Even if it feels a bit unrealistic, anything is possible! Put your head down, stay organized, and keep going.”
Off the field, Robinson is just as grounded. A father of two young children, he says his biggest priority is being present for his family and building a bright future for them, while continuing to chase his dreams.
“I want to see how far I can go in this game,” he says. “The sky is the limit! But more than anything, I want to set my kids up for great lives.”
Jeremiah Boyd – Catcher
Baseball has been part of Jeremiah Boyd’s life for as long as he can remember. He picked up a bat at 3 years old and began playing organized ball shortly after, guided by his father, a longtime professional scout who is currently with the Baltimore Orioles.
Growing up around the game meant access to something many young players only dream about: access to major league clubhouses, iconic stadiums, and interactions with professional athletes.
“I got to be around big league players from a young age,” he says. “Those were guys I really looked up to.”
Now in his fourth year of professional baseball, Boyd brings that perspective with him every time he takes the field, especially when it comes to fan interaction.
“I want to be the player I wish I had growing up,” he says. “Approachable, interactive, signing autographs, talking to kids. At the end of the day, it’s a kid’s game.”
That philosophy extends to his advice for young players.
“Have fun,” he says. “This game is hard and it’s only getting harder. If you’re not enjoying it, it can feel like a job really fast. Work hard, trust the process, but don’t lose the joy.”
Behind the scenes, Boyd understands that success at this level requires both physical and mental preparation. From workouts and drills to studying pitcher and hitter tendencies, staying ready is a daily commitment.
Still, when it comes to the ultimate goal, the call to the major leagues, he’s realistic.
“Physically, you know you’re ready and can perform,” he says. “But mentally, it’ll probably always be a surprise. When it happens, I’ll be excited, but probably a little shocked, too. I don’t know if anyone would really be fully mentally prepared for being called up.”
Playing for Reno crowds, he adds, makes the journey even more meaningful.
“The fans here really love baseball,” he says. “Even on a Wednesday night, you’ve got a great crowd. That energy makes a huge difference.”
Like his teammates, Boyd has his sights set on the big leagues, but his vision goes beyond just playing.
“I want to play baseball at the major league level, but I also want to impact the game at that level, and there are a lot of ways to do that,” he says. “However that looks, I want to stay in baseball as long as I am blessed to be able to do so.”
“I want to be the player I wish I had growing up,” — Jeremiah Boyd
“I want to be the best version of myself every single day... I want to look back and know I did everything I could to improve," — A.J. Vukovich