Junior Cerda, a 25-year-old native of Puerto Plata, D. R., joins the Otters for his sixth year of professional baseball. After spending the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Diamondbacks Arizona Complex League squad, Cerda earned his first shot at Single-A ball in 2023 with Visalia. In 2024, he spent time in both Single-A and High-A before being released from the Diamondbacks organization.
Cerda completed the 2024 season with the Kansas City Monarchs in the American Association. Last year, he played a combined 27 games between Kansas City and the Gary SouthShore RailCats in the AA, with a 5.20 ERA in 47.2 innings of work. Across those games, he struck out 42 batters while allowing only 20 walks.
J.D. Encarnacion is another right-handed pitcher, hailing from San Pedro de Macoris, D.R. 2026 marks the first taste of independent baseball for the 24-year-old, who has spent the last six years within the Boston Red Sox affiliation. After a single season of Dominican Summer League action with the Red Sox in 2019, J.D. came to the states in 2021 to play in the Florida Complex League. A sub-three ERA delivered him to the Single-A and High-A ranks in 2022, where he collected a 4.05 ERA across his 26 games.
Encarnacion spent the entirety of 2023 with High-A Greenville, starting in 21 of his 24 appearances. He reached his highest level of action last year, playing 10 games (seven starts) for Double-A Portland. In those games, he had 23 strikeouts across 30.2 innings.
Jose Montilla, from Neyba, D.R., is also looking forward to his first taste of independent baseball in 2026. After not playing during the 2024 and 2025 seasons, the 27-year-old is back on the mound to continue his baseball career. From 2017 to 2023, Montilla played within the Atlanta Braves organization, playing with Otters catcher Logan Brown for the Rome Braves in 2019.
After bouncing around the affiliation, Montilla earned his first shot at Double-A ball in 2023 for the Mississippi Braves, clocking 21 games. Across those appearances, he had 36 strikeouts and just 20 walks in 46.1 innings of work.
Marcos Gonzalez comes to Evansville from Bani, D.R. to join the Otters’ infield for 2026. After signing with the Cleveland Guardians affiliation in 2017, Gonzalez played until 2023 within the organization – eventually playing 18 games for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers.
After being released by Columbus during the 2023 season, he concluded the season with Gary in the American Association. He continued his career with two more seasons with the RailCats, clocking a .258 average across 138 games, with 27 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs and 74 RBI.
Fans can expect another group of signees early next week – including the first announced returners for the 2026 season!
Season tickets and group offerings are available now for the 2026 season. Single game tickets will go on sale in February.
