Bryan Baker hasn't forgotten where his career took shape. The Rays closer credited the Blue Jays for helping develop him, even after Toronto let him go.

“I picked up on a lot of different things as soon as I got traded over to the Blue Jays,” Baker told Sportsnet's Shi Davidi during the World Series.

“And they helped develop me even further,” he said. “Looking back now, I'm very thankful to be traded in that spot and at least be able to debut with the Blue Jays.”

The trade itself caught him off guard. Baker called it a “total shock” that “blindsided” him after the Rockies drafted him in 2016.

He debuted with Toronto in September 2021, but his stay was short. The Orioles claimed him off waivers soon after.

Did Toronto miss on him? In hindsight, sure, but he took years to reach this level.

Bryan Baker's 41 saves tied for the MLB lead in 2026

Baker built himself into a dependable reliever in Baltimore. The Rays then acquired him before the 2025 trade deadline.

This season, he exploded. He posted a 1.44 ERA across 65 appearances and earned his first All-Star selection.

He carried it into October as the Rays reached the World Series. Tampa Bay ultimately fell to the Brewers, who clinched the title on Wednesday.

The Buffalo Bisons are proud of the connection, too. MiLB.com's Pat Malacaro called Baker the headliner of the club's World Series alumni.

His story is a reminder that Toronto's development system works, even when the payoff lands elsewhere. Spencer Miles' breakout this year suggests the Jays can still find relievers out of nowhere.

He's like a student who thanks an old teacher at graduation. The lessons stuck, even if the diploma came from a different school.

It also matters for how Toronto handles Louis Varland. If elite closers can emerge this way, selling high on one isn't as risky as it sounds.

Baker's gratitude is a nice moment for the organization. The challenge now is making sure the next one breaks through in a Blue Jays uniform.