Buffalo Bisons 2025 Season Roster Preview

With the 2025 season already underway for the Buffalo Bisons, here is a quick breakdown of their opening-day roster. The team is full of good prospects, former prospects, and players trying to make their way to the major leagues — all just one step away from the ultimate goal of a minor leaguer. 

Players to Know:
Joey Loperfido has as much potential as anyone on the Bisons roster to begin the 2025 season. He was acquired last year in a deal that sent Yusei Kikuchi to the Houston Astros, coming along with Jake Bloss and Will Wagner (who is currently on the major league team). Loperfido has some true impactful talents on the field. He can hit for power (17 home runs between Triple-A and the majors last season) and he has speed (88th percentile MLB sprint speed). What he needs to improve on is his ability to hit the baseball and make consistent contact. He had a 36.3% strikeout rate in the majors last season. That must improve dramatically for him to get another shot at the big leagues. 

Addison Barger has worked his way up each level of the minor leagues for the Blue Jays and was rewarded with a few chances for the big league team. In 2024, he hit .197/.250/.351, with seven home runs for the Blue Jays major league team. He made a few changes this offseason and had a good Spring Training, as he hit .367 over 30 at-bats. He smashed three home runs and two doubles as well. It wasn't good enough for a roster spot with the major league team, so he will begin the year trying to build on those improvements he made. 

Prospects to Know:
Orelvis Martinez is also back at Triple-A Buffalo after not making the Blue Jays roster following a good spring training. He hit .320 over 25 at-bats, with a home run, and a double. He will need to keep working on his plate discipline, swing decisions, and making contact more than in the past. He made a conscious effort to use all fields in spring training and that might be the next evolution of hitting he is working on to start this year. If he can make better swing decisions and use all fields, his power, swing speed, and exit velocities will get him back to the Blue Jays major league roster quickly. He also needs to show the team he can play either third base or second base consistently without making errors left and right. 

Jonatan Clase was acquired last season in a trade with the Seattle Mariners. He is a big speed threat and will steal bases at will if he is given the opportunity. He has a big bat as well with some sneaky power. He hit 12 home runs and stole 38 bases just at Triple-A last season in 94 games. If he can improve his hit tool, he is very close to making an impact for the big league team in the near future. 

Rainer Nunez is still working his way to making his major league debut, step by step. The 24-year-old keeps moving up levels each year and does so with a very good hit tool. There are some flaws in his swing that need to be ironed out, but if his timing is on point, he has some of the best exit velocities of any hitter in the Blue Jays organization. 

Injured Players to Know:
Ricky Tiedemann, Josh Kasevich, and Leo Jimenez are all poised to make an impact with the Bisons at some point this season when they are healthy. Jimenez had a solid showing for the Blue Jays last season, hitting .229 with four home runs in 63 games for the big league club. Kasevich is another prospect in the mold of a contact first hitter who is solid in all aspects. His in-zone contact rate last season was 96.4%. He doesn't strike out but needs to be more impactful when he makes contact. Ricky Tiedemann is one of the Blue Jays’ top prospects. Coming off of Tommy John surgery last season, he is looking to make an impact late in 2025. He has an elite three pitch mix, which includes a plus fastball, plus slider, and a plus changeup. If his health and command come back quickly, he could get to the major leagues at the end of this season to help the big league club in a potential playoff push. 

Catcher: Christian Bethancourt, Ali Sanchez, Matt Whatley

Infielders: Addison Barger, Orelvis Martinez, Rainer Nunez, Damiano Palmegiani, Michael Stefanic, Riley Tirotta, Michael Turconi, 

Outfielders: Steward Berroa, Jonatan Clase, Joey Loperfido, Will Robertson

Pitchers: Andrew Bash, Jake Bloss, Justin Bruihl, Lazaro Estrada, Brayden Fisher, Mason Fluharty, Kevin Gowdy, Hayden Juenger, Eric Lauer, Easton Lucas, Eric Pardinho, Paxton Schultz, Dillon Tate, Josh Walker, Trenton Wallace

Interested in learning more about the Toronto Blue Jays' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!