Texas Ranchers, Carolina Hogs make biggest trade of MLP season yet

Alex Lantz

Director of Content

Last Edited

Jun 24 2025

Updated rosters

Texas Ranchers
Men: Christian Alshon, Eric Oncins, Wyatt Stone
Women: Tina Pisnik, Kaitlyn Christian, Felicity Di Laura

Carolina Hogs
Men: Ben Johns, Roscoe Bellamy, Martin Emmrich
Women: Tamaryn Emmrich, Etta Tuionetoa, Liz Truluck

The move is a big indicator that the Hogs still think they have a route to earning a playoff spot. It's the second time in two weeks they've made a big roster shakeup, after they waived Collin Johns and picked up Martin Emmrich last week.

The trade reunites Johns and Tuionetoa, who had plenty of success together in the past. They won 2 gold medals on the PPA Tour together in 2024 and also played on MLP's Seattle Pioneers together in 2023, winning two events that season. (The Seattle Pioneers have since become the Carolina Hogs).

The Hogs are currently 2-12 and tied for last place in the league in both total points (7) and points per match (0.50), so it will take a strong second half of the season for them to get into playoff contention. They hit rock bottom in Week 2 at MLP Columbus, when Ben and Collin Johns withdrew from the event because of lighting concerns at the venue. That contributed to an 0-8 start, and Carolina has faced an uphill battle ever since.

I had them at No. 14 in my weekly power rankings before this trade, which was a move up after they beat Texas in a Dreambreaker at MLP Daytona Beach.

Tuesday's trade is also a big shakeup for Texas. It's an apparent move to try to improve their Dreambreaker chances, as the Ranchers are 0-3 in Dreambreaker scenarios this season.

Alshon and Tuionetoa were middle of the pack in mixed doubles with a 7-5 record together this year, and Texas' women's doubles pairing of Tuionetoa and Pisnik was also 7-5.

After a strong start to the season, the Ranchers lost three matches at MLP Daytona Beach, the most recent event. That included a loss to the previously winless Carolina Hogs, a 4-0 loss to St. Louis and a Dreambreaker loss to Los Angeles.

I had them at No. 6 in my latest power rankings.

My guess is Ranchers management thought their best chance of beating one of the top teams come playoff time was via a Dreambreaker, so they felt a need to improve in that area.

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