The Players League Names Landon Deese Chief Operating Officer

Former ONSL player brings baseball background and operations experience to league leadership

Siler City, NC— September 14, 2026 — The Players League (TPL) today announced the appointment of Landon Deese as Chief Operating Officer. Deese, a former collegiate and summer-league player who competed two seasons with the Brunswick Surfin' Turfs of the ONSL, steps into the role ahead of the 2027 season.

"Landon knows this league from the inside," said Alec Allred, Owner of The Players League. "He played two summers in the ONSL, so he understands what our players experience day to day. Pair that with an MBA and a master's in sport and entertainment management, and he brings insight we haven't had before. Landon will have the players' best interest at heart, and that's exactly what The Players League is about."

Deese joins TPL from Foul Pole Sports, where he served as Director for the 2026 summer season. His baseball background also includes work in scouting and analytics for the University of South Carolina baseball program and a player internship with the Surfin' Turfs.

"I have a personal connection to TPL — I played in the ONSL and thoroughly enjoyed my summers there," Deese said. "I've always thought the league had a great vision and great people running it, so my attraction to it has been set for years. Alec's goals, combined with the opportunity for growth and operational improvement in an already proven company, made it an easy yes."

Deese identified the league's four newest circuits as TPL's most significant near-term opportunity. "Those leagues just completed their inaugural seasons," he said. "Now that those teams have had a year to establish themselves in their communities, I expect growth in year two — especially with the improvements we're making to business operations at the team level."

His stated priorities center on preparation for the coming summer. Deese plans to focus on strengthening internal work systems so that teams enter the season with the resources and materials they need, and on better preparing team-level staff — an effort he expects David Martin, Director of Team Operations, to lead a significant part of.

Deese also pointed to his recent playing career as a practical asset in a front office. "A lot of the decisions we make impact our players, and first and foremost we are a player-first league," he said. "Having recently played college baseball, I can speak from the players' point of view. I believe summer college baseball should be accessible to players and is crucial for their development, and that aligns strongly with TPL's mission."

Deese played Division II baseball at Lander University and Southern Wesleyan University. He holds a bachelor's degree in business management from Southern Wesleyan University and both an MBA and a Master of Sport and Entertainment Management from the University of South Carolina.