Unique happenings are often afoot when the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats dip into their alternate identity bag and step out as the Manchester Chicken Tenders.
On June 7, 2025, Rafael Sanchez spun a seven-inning no-hitter when the team took the field as the Buffalo Tenders, a spicy offshoot. Incredibly, they were back at it again April 28 when four Fisher Cats hurlers combined to toss yet another no-no while under the guise of the Chicken Tenders.
So when Nolan Perry, the Blue Jays’ No. 2 prospect, toed the slab Saturday night, it was a precursor that something special could happen. Add in that it was the second time ever the club was donning their latest offshoot -- the Coconut Tenders -- and it all came together for a perfectly delicious blend of history during the club’s 6-4 loss to Hartford at Delta Dental Stadium.
Perry lost the no-hit bid right out of the chute, so the Tenders would have to find an even sweeter way to make history. The 2026 All-Star Futures Game representative racked up a pair of strikeouts in both the first and second, then notched a fifth in the third, before adding two more in the fourth, marking his eighth start this season with at least seven punchouts to his credit.
But when the bullpen door swung open, batters kept on swinging and missing. Righty Alex Amalfi notched five strikeouts in two frames. Gage Stanifer (TOR No. 10) notched all six of his outs by way of the K before Yondrei Rojas added two punchouts of his own. All told, the Fisher Cats’ pitching staff finished with 20 strikeouts, the most in franchise history.
More from MLB Pipeline:
• Top 100 prospects | Stats | Video | Podcast | Complete coverage
Perry topped out at 75 pitches as Toronto continues to keep a close eye on his workload in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. He’s already up to a career-high 73 2/3 innings this year and missed a chunk of time after taking a line drive off the head. But when healthy, he’s backed up being ranked No. 95 overall by MLB Pipeline with a 2.81 ERA, .196 average against and 12.6 K/9 across three levels.
Stanifer first pitched out of relief this season back on Aug. 6 and has since made seven appearances as a multi-inning reliever. He’s racked up 22 strikeouts over 14 innings in that span and held opposing batters to a .184 average. Equipped with one of the most wicked one-two punches of offerings in the Jays’ system with his fastball/slider combo, Stanifer has shown an ability to continue missing bats in his new role.
COMPLETE BLUE JAYS PROSPECT COVERAGE
The addition of the Coconut Tenders to the alt identity family was meant to bring a bit of sweet summer vibes to the Granite State. But it’s also provided the Fisher Cats with a little extra flavor as they make history.