As part of their annual Fan Appreciation Night tradition at Sahlen Field, the Buffalo Bisons tonight announced the winners of their 2026 team awards, including INF Josh Kasevich being named the team’s 2026 Stan Barron Most Valuable Player for his leadership offensively and on the infield throughout the 2026 season.
Kasevich also was named the Jimmy Griffin Hometown Hero Award winner thanks to his offensive prowess at Sahlen Field this year, while RHP Tanner Andrews was named the Warren Spahn Most Valuable Pitcher as the team’s top pitcher among several worthy candidates.
RHP Chad Dallas was named the Bisons Judge Michael Dillion Comeback Player of the Year after returning to the Bisons and the International League following Tommy John surgery that held him out for all of the 2025 campaign. The team also announced that RHP Grant Rogers was awarded the Frank “Fremo” Vallone Community Service Award for his support for the Bisons’ community initiatives this past season and LHP Brendan Cellucci was selected by his teammates as the Joe DeSa Most Inspirational Player.
Stan Barron Most Valuable Player – INF Josh Kasevich
Josh Kasevich returned to the Bisons this season after an injury plagued 2025 season limited the University of Oregon product to just 29 games with Buffalo. Returning as the most consistent bat in Casey Candaele’s lineup, Kasevich leads the team in games played (128), batting average, (.285), hits (142), runs scored (76) and total bases (183).
Entering the final weekend of the regular season, Kasevich’s 142 base hits rank 2nd in the International League, just two hits off the lead. It’s also currently tied for the most in a single season by a Bisons hitter over the past 10 seasons. Kasevich also ranks 2nd on the Bisons in extra-base hits (30), including a team-best 23 doubles and 3 triples, while also raking in the club’s Top 5 in RBI (46), walks (54) and OPS (.729).
Kasevich has remained in the top three among qualified batters in base hits for the majority of the season, as well as sitting in the top spot for more than a month out of the All-Star Break. His slash line of .362/367/.729 is also near the top of the Bisons’ offensively entering the last three games of the 2026 campaign.
Jimmy Griffin Hometown Hero Award – INF Josh Kasevich
Kasevich entered the final week of the 2026 season with nearly an identical number of games played in downtown Buffalo and on the road. However, the third-year Bisons infielder batted 56 points higher at home in 66 games, compared to nearly the same number of at-bats in 62 road games this season. Seventeen of his 30 extra-base hits were collected at Sahlen Field (.798 OPS), in addition to 28 RBI. Also, 77 of his 142 hits have come in front of the home crowd in downtown Buffalo.
Warren Spahn Most Valuable Pitcher – RHP Tanner Andrews
Tanner Andrews quickly went from starting the 2026 season on the team’s development list to being one of the most trusted pitchers in the Bisons’ bullpen. Before suffering a season ending injury, the veteran right-hander was a perfect 12-for-12 in save situations to lead the team in the category. His 2.05 ERA in 37 relief appearances was the best of any pitcher on the team with at least 40 innings pitched at the time of his injury.
Andrews’ contract was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays on May 25 and he made his Major League debut that same night against the Miami Marlins, the franchise that originally drafted him in the 2018 MLB Draft. The Purdue University product finished the season with the Herd with a perfect 5-0 record to go along with 48 strikeouts to only 31 hits allowed in 44.0 innings. His final victory of the year was recorded on August 15 against the Worcester Red Sox.
Joe De Sa Most Inspirational Player – LHP Brendan Cellucci
Brendan Cellucci joined the Bisons a week into the season after breaking camp with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. However, the former Worcester Red Sox reliever worked more than any other pitcher for the team this season, ending up in the top 10 in the International League with 45 appearances. The left-hander allowed just one earned run in his final 15 relief outings for the team. He also earned his first call-up to the Blue Jays when his contract was selected on August 19.
Overall, Cellucci was 6-2 with a 3.16 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 51.1 innings of work.
Judge Michael Dillon Comeback Player of the Year – RHP Chad Dallas
Chad Dallas missed all of the 2025 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow late in the 2024 season. However, the 26-year-old opened the season in the Bisons’ starting rotation and transitioned to the bullpen midway through the season after making his Major League debut.
Answering the call whenever needed, the 26-year old made 12 starts and 14 relief appearances, and posted a solid 3.25 combined ERA. Dallas struck out 71 batters in 69 innings of work, and recorded the first save of his five-year career on June 11 versus Syracuse.
Fremo Vallone Community Service Award – RHP Grant Rogers
Grant Rogers became one of the familiar faces among Bisons’ players dedicating their time away from the field to the team’s community efforts. The right-hander led the team in innings pitched and starts, but it was his visit to Golisano Children’s Hospital or taking part in the Miracle League at Sahlen Field this past July. Rogers has quickly become a fan favorite for his attitude and efforts in Western New York in just his first season with the team.