Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other podcast-listening apps. This episode can also be found on Minor League Baseball's official YouTube page. Send questions or feedback to podcast@milb.com, and follow hosts Sam Dykstra (@samdykstramilb.bsky.social) and Tyler Maun (@tylermaun.bsky.social) on Bluesky and Benjamin Hill (@bensbiz) on X.
Intro/Ben's Biz Banter (0:00)
Ben, Sam and Tyler open this week's show by looking at the MiLB Awards nominees for Best New Alternate Identity and naming their favorites. Ben also shares details of the newly revealed Ontario Tower Buzzers identity coming to the California League in 2026.
Buffalo's connection to The Natural (25:37)
Following the death of Robert Redford, Buffalo Bisons president Mike Buczkowski joins the podcast to discuss the city's connections to the baseball film The Natural and how that might have kept Minor League Baseball in the city for decades to come.
On-field chatter (44:41)
Sam provides an update on the Minor League postseason, including the crowning of champions in the Single-A and High-A circuits, and names the hitter and pitcher of the year at the Triple-A level.
Wrapping up (57:17)