Davis Schneider’s Two-Run Homer Powers Bisons Past Red Sox in 8-4 Win

When Davis Schneider connected with a 92-mph fastball at Sahlen Field on Wednesday night, May 14, 2025, the crack of the bat echoed louder than the crowd’s roar — because this wasn’t just another home run. It was the spark that ended a nine-game skid, revived a fading Triple-A season, and reminded the Toronto Blue Jays why they still see potential in a player who’d gone 1-for-15 in the majors just weeks before.

A Comeback in the Making

At 8:42 PM Eastern, with the bases empty and two outs in the bottom of the third inning, Schneider — 26, 6’1”, 205 pounds, born in Barrie, Ontario — launched a 385-foot fly ball over the left-field fence. It wasn’t a moonshot. It wasn’t even the longest homer of the night. But it was perfectly timed. Alan Roden, the 24-year-old center fielder from San Diego, had led off the frame with a line-drive single off Brian Van Belle, the Worcester Red Sox’s 25-year-old right-hander making his 12th start of the season. Two pitches later, Schneider’s bat did the rest. Both runners crossed the plate. The Buffalo Bisons led 2-0.

The crowd of 9,142 — not a sellout, but the largest in three weeks — stood up slowly at first, then erupted. This was the kind of moment that turns a lost season around. The Bisons had been 13-25 just four days earlier. Now, with Schneider’s homer and a five-run fifth inning, they won 8-4, improving to 15-25. For the Worcester Red Sox, it was their third loss in four games, dropping them to 22-18 and widening the gap between them and the top of the International League.

From Bench Warmer to Clutch Hitter

Here’s the twist: Schneider wasn’t even supposed to be hitting cleanup on May 14. He’d been optioned to Buffalo on April 16 after a brutal start in Toronto — one hit in 15 at-bats, no power, no rhythm. The Blue Jays needed room on the roster. Schneider needed time to reset.

Since then? A quiet transformation. In 38 games with the Bisons before the homer, he’d drawn 24 walks — more than any other player on the team — and slashed .226/.350/.391. His on-base percentage was better than his MLB mark from last year. His patience at the plate? Not just improved. It was elite for Triple-A. And now, with his fifth homer of the season — four in Buffalo, one in Toronto — he was proving he could drive in runs when it mattered.

“He’s not trying to hit a home run,” said Bisons hitting coach Marcus Delgado after the game. “He’s trying to get on base. And when he does? He’s letting the ball travel. That’s when the power comes.”

The Players Behind the Play

It wasn’t just Schneider. Alan Roden, drafted 46th overall in 2021 out of the University of San Diego, had been struggling with a .205 average since mid-April. His leadoff single was his first hit in five games. And Brian Van Belle, the 6’3” Iowa product drafted in the fifth round by Boston, had been one of Worcester’s most consistent arms — until that pitch. He’d allowed just two home runs all season before this one.

Van Belle’s fastball was up. A little too much. “It was a mistake pitch,” he said afterward, shaking his head. “I should’ve gone down and away. He’s not the guy you want to give the middle of the plate to.”

And yet, the real story wasn’t the pitcher’s error. It was Schneider’s maturity. He didn’t swing early. He didn’t chase. He waited — and when the pitch came, he didn’t try to kill it. He just drove it.

Why Sahlen Field Matters

Let’s not forget the stage. Sahlen Field, opened in 1988 and renovated for $91 million in 2020, has dimensions that favor hitters — 328 feet down the line, 404 to center. But it’s not just the park. It’s the culture. Buffalo’s fans are loyal. They know prospects. They remember when José Bautista and Edwin Encarnación played here before becoming stars. They see Schneider’s struggle — and his comeback — as part of that legacy.

The Bisons have lost 12 of their last 15 games against teams with winning records. This win? It was the first against a .500-or-better opponent since April 27. And it came with a rookie manager, Kevin Baez, in his first full season. “We’ve been playing for pride,” Baez said. “Tonight, we played for something more.”

What’s Next?

With the Blue Jays hovering around .500 and dealing with injuries to outfielders Teoscar Hernández and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Schneider’s name is trending again in Toronto’s front office. He’s not on the 40-man roster’s radar — yet. But if he hits .270 with 10 homers over the next three weeks? The call-up won’t be a question. It’ll be inevitable.

For now, he’ll stay in Buffalo. He’ll keep working on his swing. He’ll keep drawing walks. And if the next pitch is up? He’ll be ready.