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Buffalo Bisons

Blue Jays Head to ALDS with Bisons Support

October 5, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Buffalo Bisons News Release


Former Buffalo Bison Chris Colabello with the Toronto Blue Jays
Former Buffalo Bison Chris Colabello with the Toronto Blue Jays
(Buffalo Bisons)

The magical ride that is the Blue Jays' 2015 season isn't over yet. Toronto wrapped up the regular season on Sunday with 93 wins, and American East Division Title and their first ticket to the postseason since 1993.

When the Blue Jays announce their postseason roster for their Divisional Series showdown with the Texas Rangers, there will be plenty of names familiar to Bisons fans. And it should be no surprise, as former Bisons were key contributors throughout the Blue Jays run to the playoffs.

The high-powered Toronto off-season scored an MLB-best 891 runs this season...434 of those runs were scored by players who have also been Bisons. Of the 93 wins collected by the Blue Jays' pitching staff, 53 came from hurlers that have worn the Buffalo uniform.

Think of the players that began the year with the Herd only to be key contributors for the Blue Jays this season. After winning IL Player of the Month in April, Chris Colabello was promoted to Toronto and hit .321 with 15 home runs and 54 RBI in 101 games with the Blue Jays. Ryan Goins was the Herd's Opening Day second baseman before collecting 25 extra-base hits and scoring 52 times in 128 games for Toronto. Ezequiel Carrera moved on to play 91 games for the Blue Jays this season as key player off the bench. Bo Schultz saved seven games for the Herd before posting a 3.56 ERA in 31 games for Toronto.

Then of course, there are the players who made their way through Buffalo prior to the 2015 season. Arguably the best player of the Bisons-Blue Jays affiliation, Kevin Pillar has played Gold-Glove caliber defense for Toronto while hitting 31 doubles and 12 home runs, driving in 56 and stealing 25 bases. Marcus Stroman's incredible comeback included one more stop with the Bisons before going 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA down the stretch for Toronto. 2014 Bisons All-Star and Pitcher of the Year Liam Hendriks was 5-0 with a 2.98 ERA in 58 games this year while Aaron Sanchez won seven games with a 3.22 ERA out of the Blue Jays bullpen. Don't forget Drew Hutchison pitched for Buffalo in 2013 and led Toronto with 13 wins this season.

Mix in the players that have appeared with the Bisons on rehab assignments over the past couple years like Edwin Encarnacion, Dioner Navarro and Brett Cecil and you have a whole lot of BuffaLOVE on the Blue Jays postseason roster. After three years of a successful affiliation both on the field and off, there's no doubting the Bisons' connection to the exciting playoff run the Blue Jays are about to embark on.

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Former Buffalo Bison Chris Colabello with the Toronto Blue Jays
Former Buffalo Bison Chris Colabello with the Toronto Blue Jays
   

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