Bryan Baker represents former Bisons in World Series

Buffalo, Ny. – As the 2026 World Series begins, the connection between the Buffalo Bisons and the Fall Classic continues once again this year. The Bisons’ alumni are headlined by Tampa Bay Rays closer, and 2026 American League All-Star, Bryan Baker. He is joined by Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder in Tampa Bay that will face the Milwaukee Brewers for the Commissioner’s Trophy.

Baker was acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays during the 2018 season and made his Bisons’ debut on July 14, 2019, against the Pawtucket Red Sox. The right-hander notched a save for his new team at McCoy Stadium with an inning of scoreless relief. That was one of 18 total appearances in the 2018 campaign for the North Florida product.

He followed that up with 39 more relief outings in the 2021 campaign, helping lock down the team’s bullpen. Baker was a pivotal member of Buffalo’s last division championship, collecting 11 saves in 13 tries to help the team claim the Triple-A East Northeast division crown. The righty went 7-2 with a 2.13 ERA and 14 saves in two years.

Baker’s contract was selected on September 1, 2019, by the Blue Jays and he made his Major League debut on September 5 with a scoreless relief inning against the Oakland Athletics. He was claimed on waivers by the Baltimore Orioles during the offseason, spending the next three-and-a-half years in the Orioles organization between Baltimore and the Norfolk Tides.

The Rays acquired Baker before the trade deadline during the 2025 season and made him their closer this year. The righty’s 41 saves were tied for the most in Major League Baseball this year. He represented Tampa Bay in the Midsummer Classic, recording the final out after former Bisons teammate Otto Lopez singled for the National League.

Snyder serves as the Rays pitching coach, a role has held since the 2018 season. The six-foot, eight-inch righty pitched his final professional affiliated season in Buffalo, going 3-8 with a 4.23 ERA. Snyder made 14 starts among his 33 total outings for Buffalo.

There are also several other connections to the Bisons on both sides, but particularly with the Rays. Reliever Cole Sulser’s brother Beau was a member of the Bisons pitching staff during the 2024 campaign. The brothers faced each other for the first time professionally when Beau was with Buffalo and Cole was a member of the Syracuse Mets bullpen, and featured by MLB.com. Beau won three games for Buffalo and made 17 total appearances over nearly three months.

Joshua Palacios was a member of the Bisons’ outfield during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, opening the year each season as a starter in the outfield. However, an injury during the 2021 campaign cut his season short after 16 games. He would appear in six games for Buffalo the following year before being claimed off waivers.

Joshua’s brother Richie has batted .364, 8-22, in eight postseason games for Tampa Bay this postseason. He has racked up three doubles and four RBIs for the Rays, helping the team claim their third AL pennant in franchise history. The second baseman is in his third season with Tampa Bay.

No matter the situation, you can always count on a Bisons connection. Whether it is directly back to the franchise, or one degree of separation, there are always players and stories to root for as you tune into the World Series over the next week.