Diamondbacks purchase Gregersen’s contract from Lexington Legends

Atlantic League Baseball · By Sarah Mitchell · July 20, 2026

Arizona bought Simon Gregersen’s contract from the Lexington Legends, a move that pushed a former Kentucky Wildcat out of Lexington and into the Diamondbacks’ player pipeline. Lexington said the transaction was official, and DMACC Baseball also congratulated Gregersen as a former Bear signing with Arizona.

That matters because this was not a camp invite or a loose look. A contract purchase is a clean organizational decision, and it usually means an affiliated club saw enough recent value to act. For Gregersen, the Atlantic League became the stage where Arizona found a player worth moving into a more structured system.

The move also fits what the Atlantic League has built its brand around. The league has described itself as Major League Baseball’s first professional partner league, which is why it has become a real scouting market for clubs that want live looks at experienced players. Gregersen’s jump from Lexington to Arizona is exactly the kind of transaction that keeps that reputation alive.

Lexington’s role in that pipeline has only grown since the club joined the Atlantic League in 2021. The Legends later came under the umbrella of Temerity Baseball after Lexington Professional Baseball was acquired, but the on-field reality stayed the same: players can perform well enough to attract affiliated attention, and roster turnover is part of the business. When a player leaves for a major league organization, it changes bullpen plans, lineup cards, and depth charts in a hurry.

Arizona Diamondbacks — Wikimedia Commons — Johnmaxmena2 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Gregersen’s background also explains why the Diamondbacks had a clean read on him. Lexington identified him as a former Kentucky Wildcat, while DMACC Baseball described him as a former Bear, giving Arizona a player with a well-traveled amateur and independent-ball resume. That combination matters in a league built on second chances and fresh evaluations. The Atlantic League is not just a place to keep playing; for Gregersen, it became the place where a performance window turned into an MLB opportunity.