As the only Toronto Blue Jays MiLB affiliate to have started its season already, the triple-A Buffalo Bisons have had a subpar start to their 2025 season. With a 1-3 record and a -19 run differential, the team&#8217;s pitching prospects have been exposed early by the Rochester Red Wings and the Memphis Redbirds. The club sits last in the International League East out of the gate.
Not all has been bad; some players have had excellent showings, and some have already earned their calls to the big league squad.
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In this deep dive, we&#8217;ll examine the team&#8217;s play in the series that has already played and highlight some of the top prospects on the team to keep an eye on. Here&#8217;s the team&#8217;s opening day roster for reference as we look at the changes that have already happened later on:
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Now introducing your 2025 Buffalo Bisons Opening Day roster! 🦬⚾️ <a href="https://t.co/jU8Llk4k8u">pic.twitter.com/jU8Llk4k8u</a>
&mdash; Buffalo Bisons (@BuffaloBisons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBisons/status/1905304902080815331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Series vs. Rochester Red Wings
Even though their record sits at 1-4, the Bisons&#8217; home opener series against the Red Wings was a competitive 1-1 split. The series, which was supposed to be three games, was shortened to two after the final one was postponed to April 23rd due to rain.
The first game was all Buffalo, as they took a 6-2 win. Starter Eric Lauer, who was <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/report-blue-jays-sign-eric-lauer-to-a-minor-league-deal">acquired this offseason</a>, pitched four innings of two-run ball and the four bullpen arms behind him didn&#8217;t allow a single run.
Ali Sánchez, Michael Stefanic, Riley Tirotta, and Rainer Nunez all drove in runs, but the dagger was a 429-foot blast from Joey Loperfido, who narrowly <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-option-leo-jimenez-and-joey-loperfido-to-triple-a">missed out on a major league roster spot</a> to start the year.
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FIRST HOME RUN OF THE SEASON BELONGS TO JOEY LOPERFIDO!!!!
113.2 | 429FT <a href="https://t.co/hJ0ncMgO7Q">pic.twitter.com/hJ0ncMgO7Q</a>
&mdash; Buffalo Bisons (@BuffaloBisons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBisons/status/1905720912135225469?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Game two did not go nearly as well for the home team. Starter Trenton Wallace, who pitched to a 2.68 ERA during his 2024 campaign in double-A and earned a call-up late in the season, got shelled by Rochester as the Bisons lost 8-3.
Wallace was unable to escape the first inning, giving up five earned runs through two-thirds of the inning. The Red Wings tacked on three more runs with one in each of the final three innings, and the only resistance from the Bisons was a two-run home run by Addison Barger and a later with Michael Turconi scoring on a wild pitch in the eighth.
Series vs. Memphis RedBirds (so far)
The Bisons second series against the Redbirds has gotten off to a bad start. Top Jays&#8217; prospect Jake Bloss got the start in game one, but his defence crumbled around him. He allowed eight runs to cross the plate through four innings (five of which came in the first inning alone), but only three of them were earned.
While the game was tied 6-6 at one point, thanks to an Ali Sánchez solo shot, a five-run eighth inning from the Redbirds sealed their 13-7 victory.
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ALI SANCHEZ HOME RUN! <a href="https://t.co/dQBXtexrvx">pic.twitter.com/dQBXtexrvx</a>
&mdash; Buffalo Bisons (@BuffaloBisons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffaloBisons/status/1907233977930277219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Things went from bad to worse in game two, as Bisons starter Lazaro Estrada couldn&#8217;t get out of the first inning, allowing eight runs (six earned) before he was mercifully pulled.
The Bisons only offence came from Michael Stefanic and Loperfido RBI singles as Memphis routed Buffalo&#8217;s eight different pitchers that they sent out to the tune of a dominating 15-3 win. Outfielder Will Robertson came into the game in the eighth inning to limit the damage on the bullpen.
Game three goes Thursday night at 7:45 EST.
Players to watch
Despite the young season, some triple-A players have already gotten their calls to the big leagues, and others are well on their way with fantastic play.
Blue Jays Nation writer Matthew Spagnuolo has already <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/players-to-keep-an-eye-on-early-this-season-with-the-buffalo-bisons">compiled a list</a> of some of the Bisons&#8217; top prospects to watch, so here&#8217;s a look at some players who didn&#8217;t quite make that list, followed by some who have already made their way to the Jays.
Ali Sánchez
As mentioned earlier in the game recaps, Sánchez has gotten off to a great start this season, leading the team in OPS with a 1.158 while playing catcher.
While he has been somewhat of a three true outcomes player this year with one home run, two walks, and three strikeouts through his seven at-bats, if he&#8217;s able to continue hitting at the pace he has, he&#8217;ll either find a Jays roster spot sooner than later or become a trade chip to another team that needs catching help.
With Alejandro Kirk being asked to play the majority of games behind the plate with Tyler Heineman backing him up, Sánchez is likely the next man up should anything happen to change that arrangement.
At the triple-A level, he&#8217;ll be directly competing with Christian Bethancourt, who has started his year 0-7 at the dish.
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The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bisons?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bisons</a> starting battery on Opening Day – Ali Sánchez and Eric Lauer. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Buffalo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Buffalo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a> <a href="https://t.co/Mf148pSKn4">pic.twitter.com/Mf148pSKn4</a>
&mdash; The Herd Chronicles (@HERDchronicles) <a href="https://twitter.com/HERDchronicles/status/1905775014038974942?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Damiano Palmegiani
While the Venezuelan-Canadian Palmegiani has struggled to start the season, all it will take is for the right adjustments to click for him to be back to his 2023 stretch with the Bisons when he hit .284 with four homers through 20 games.
A pure power threat at first base; he&#8217;s hit over 20 home runs the past three minor league seasons across from high-A Vancouver to Buffalo. Unfortunately, this year, he&#8217;s started 1-9 at the plate.
There&#8217;s certainly a lot working against him at the moment, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ahead of him on the Jays&#8217; depth chart and a horde of players vying for time at third base, but with Guerrer&#8217;s free agency looming, Palmegiani could very well be the team&#8217;s first baseman of the future if he can return to form.
Josh Walker
Arriving for his first season with the Bisons after a 4.06 ERA 2024 split between the Indianapolis Indians and Syracuse Mets, Josh Walker provides the Jays with a solid left-handed depth piece.
While Mason Fluharty got a call-up before he did, Walker remains an option should the Jays need to do more shuffling within their bullpen.
Through his 2 1/3 innings pitched in 2025, Walker owns a 3.86 ERA and a hold. If he can keep that pace throughout the year, expect him to stay as a top candidate for promotion as the season drags on.
Early promotions
To this point, the Jays have already called up two players from the Bisons to their roster.
Fluharty was the first, after Richard Lovelady was designated for assignment on the 30th of March. In his debut with the Jays, he struck out one but allowed a hit, which drove in a game-tying run on April first. The Jays did go on to win 5-3 regardless.
For more information on Fluharty, Blue Jays Nation writer Chris Georges wrote a detailed report on his call to the big leagues <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-call-up-lefthanded-reliever-mason-fluharty-dfa-richard-lovelady">here</a>.
The team&#8217;s second call-up was Easton Lucas, who was claimed off of waivers by the team in 2024 and started the year in Buffalo after not making the Opening Day roster. During that season, he pitched for three different minor league teams, including the Bisons, ending the year with a 2.87 ERA.
Lucas has predominantly worked as a southpaw reliever, but his promotion came since he was needed as a starter to cover for the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-max-scherzer-receives-cortisone-shot-in-right-thumb-still-no-timetable-for-return">injured Max Scherzer</a>. He excelled in his first MLB start, tossing <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-blue-jays-sweep-the-nationals-thanks-to-a-4-2-win">five shutout innings</a>.
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As the only Toronto Blue Jays MiLB affiliate to have started its season already, the triple-A Buffalo Bisons have had a subpar start to their 2025 season. With a 1-3 record and a -19 run differential, the team's pitching prospects have been exposed early by the Rochester Red Wings and the Memphis Redbirds. The club sits last in the International League East out of the gate.

Not all has been bad; some players have had excellent showings, and some have already earned their calls to the big league squad.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="330" data-promotion-id="18983" data-context="“web-content-promocard&quot;"></div>
In this deep dive, we'll examine the team's play in the series that has already played and highlight some of the top prospects on the team to keep an eye on. Here's the team's opening day roster for reference as we look at the changes that have already happened later on:

https://twitter.com/BuffaloBisons/status/1905304902080815331

Series vs. Rochester Red Wings

Even though their record sits at 1-4, the Bisons' home opener series against the Red Wings was a competitive 1-1 split. The series, which was supposed to be three games, was shortened to two after the final one was postponed to April 23rd due to rain.

The first game was all Buffalo, as they took a 6-2 win. Starter Eric Lauer, who was <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/report-blue-jays-sign-eric-lauer-to-a-minor-league-deal">acquired this offseason</a>, pitched four innings of two-run ball and the four bullpen arms behind him didn't allow a single run.

Ali Sánchez, Michael Stefanic, Riley Tirotta, and Rainer Nunez all drove in runs, but the dagger was a 429-foot blast from Joey Loperfido, who narrowly <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-option-leo-jimenez-and-joey-loperfido-to-triple-a">missed out on a major league roster spot</a> to start the year.

https://twitter.com/BuffaloBisons/status/1905720912135225469

Game two did not go nearly as well for the home team. Starter Trenton Wallace, who pitched to a 2.68 ERA during his 2024 campaign in double-A and earned a call-up late in the season, got shelled by Rochester as the Bisons lost 8-3.

Wallace was unable to escape the first inning, giving up five earned runs through two-thirds of the inning. The Red Wings tacked on three more runs with one in each of the final three innings, and the only resistance from the Bisons was a two-run home run by Addison Barger and a later with Michael Turconi scoring on a wild pitch in the eighth.

Series vs. Memphis RedBirds (so far)

The Bisons second series against the Redbirds has gotten off to a bad start. Top Jays' prospect Jake Bloss got the start in game one, but his defence crumbled around him. He allowed eight runs to cross the plate through four innings (five of which came in the first inning alone), but only three of them were earned.

While the game was tied 6-6 at one point, thanks to an Ali Sánchez solo shot, a five-run eighth inning from the Redbirds sealed their 13-7 victory.

https://twitter.com/BuffaloBisons/status/1907233977930277219

Things went from bad to worse in game two, as Bisons starter Lazaro Estrada couldn't get out of the first inning, allowing eight runs (six earned) before he was mercifully pulled.

The Bisons only offence came from Michael Stefanic and Loperfido RBI singles as Memphis routed Buffalo's eight different pitchers that they sent out to the tune of a dominating 15-3 win. Outfielder Will Robertson came into the game in the eighth inning to limit the damage on the bullpen.

Game three goes Thursday night at 7:45 EST.

Players to watch

Despite the young season, some triple-A players have already gotten their calls to the big leagues, and others are well on their way with fantastic play.

Blue Jays Nation writer Matthew Spagnuolo has already <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/players-to-keep-an-eye-on-early-this-season-with-the-buffalo-bisons">compiled a list</a> of some of the Bisons' top prospects to watch, so here's a look at some players who didn't quite make that list, followed by some who have already made their way to the Jays.

Ali Sánchez

As mentioned earlier in the game recaps, Sánchez has gotten off to a great start this season, leading the team in OPS with a 1.158 while playing catcher.

While he has been somewhat of a three true outcomes player this year with one home run, two walks, and three strikeouts through his seven at-bats, if he's able to continue hitting at the pace he has, he'll either find a Jays roster spot sooner than later or become a trade chip to another team that needs catching help.

With Alejandro Kirk being asked to play the majority of games behind the plate with Tyler Heineman backing him up, Sánchez is likely the next man up should anything happen to change that arrangement.

At the triple-A level, he'll be directly competing with Christian Bethancourt, who has started his year 0-7 at the dish.

https://twitter.com/HERDchronicles/status/1905775014038974942

Damiano Palmegiani

While the Venezuelan-Canadian Palmegiani has struggled to start the season, all it will take is for the right adjustments to click for him to be back to his 2023 stretch with the Bisons when he hit .284 with four homers through 20 games.

A pure power threat at first base; he's hit over 20 home runs the past three minor league seasons across from high-A Vancouver to Buffalo. Unfortunately, this year, he's started 1-9 at the plate.

There's certainly a lot working against him at the moment, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. ahead of him on the Jays' depth chart and a horde of players vying for time at third base, but with Guerrer's free agency looming, Palmegiani could very well be the team's first baseman of the future if he can return to form.

Josh Walker

Arriving for his first season with the Bisons after a 4.06 ERA 2024 split between the Indianapolis Indians and Syracuse Mets, Josh Walker provides the Jays with a solid left-handed depth piece.

While Mason Fluharty got a call-up before he did, Walker remains an option should the Jays need to do more shuffling within their bullpen.

Through his 2 1/3 innings pitched in 2025, Walker owns a 3.86 ERA and a hold. If he can keep that pace throughout the year, expect him to stay as a top candidate for promotion as the season drags on.

Early promotions

To this point, the Jays have already called up two players from the Bisons to their roster.

Fluharty was the first, after Richard Lovelady was designated for assignment on the 30th of March. In his debut with the Jays, he struck out one but allowed a hit, which drove in a game-tying run on April first. The Jays did go on to win 5-3 regardless.

For more information on Fluharty, Blue Jays Nation writer Chris Georges wrote a detailed report on his call to the big leagues <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-call-up-lefthanded-reliever-mason-fluharty-dfa-richard-lovelady">here</a>.

The team's second call-up was Easton Lucas, who was claimed off of waivers by the team in 2024 and started the year in Buffalo after not making the Opening Day roster. During that season, he pitched for three different minor league teams, including the Bisons, ending the year with a 2.87 ERA.

Lucas has predominantly worked as a southpaw reliever, but his promotion came since he was needed as a starter to cover for the <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/blue-jays-max-scherzer-receives-cortisone-shot-in-right-thumb-still-no-timetable-for-return">injured Max Scherzer</a>. He excelled in his first MLB start, tossing <a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/instant-reaction-blue-jays-sweep-the-nationals-thanks-to-a-4-2-win">five shutout innings</a>.

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