Candaele Previews 2026 Season, Spring Breakout, and Key Bisons Players

Casey Candaele sat down for the Buffalo Bisons' "first-pitch" manager Q&A series last Friday, running through the topics that will define Buffalo's 2026 campaign in a conversation that stretched just over five and a half minutes.

The 5:35 video, posted to MiLB on March 20, covered the 2026 Spring Breakout Game, the organization's 2025 World Series run, and specific players Candaele flagged as ones to watch: infielder Josh Kasevich and catcher Brandon Valenzuela. The format puts the manager directly in front of fans before the season gets underway, and the Bisons have used it to bridge the gap between spring training and Opening Day at Sahlen Field.

Kasevich and Valenzuela represent two of the more closely watched names in the Buffalo system heading into 2026. The fact that Candaele chose to address both players by name in a short pre-season video signals the organization views them as central to what the club is building this year. Both are prospects with developmental timelines that matter to the parent club, and a manager's public attention at this stage of the calendar carries weight.

The Spring Breakout Game reference connects to Minor League Baseball's annual showcase event, which gives prospects additional exposure before the regular season. Candaele's inclusion of it in the Q&A suggests Buffalo intends to use the event as part of its player development calendar rather than treat it as a side note.

The 2025 World Series run, listed explicitly as a topic, adds a layer of recent organizational context to the conversation. How much of that experience filters down to the Triple-A level, and how Candaele frames it for a roster looking to push players toward the majors, is the kind of thread worth pulling.

Sahlen Field is also getting a refresh this year. A separate Bisons video posted March 12 previewed new food options, merchandise, and other ballpark updates heading into the 2026 season, rounding out what has been an active content push from the club in the days before the season opens.