Bryan Baker is one of the hottest closers in October, and the Blue Jays once let him go after one game. The former Toronto right-hander now closes for the Rays.

He hasn't allowed a run in three postseason appearances. All three were saves in Tampa Bay's ALDS sweep of the Yankees.

Opta noted he's the only pitcher since saves became official in 1969 to save every game of a sweep of three or more games without allowing a hit.

The regular season set it up. Since his last blown save, he's posted a 0.94 ERA over 48 innings, including the playoffs, per Just Baseball.

He's 33-for-33 in save chances over that stretch. The run also earned him a trip to the All-Star Game.

He didn't get a chance Monday. Kevin Cash's club dropped Game 1 of the ALCS to the Guardians 7-3, and Baker stayed in the bullpen.

One game in Toronto and a waiver claim in 2021

His Toronto chapter was brief. Drafted by the Rockies in the 11th round in 2016, he made his MLB debut with the Blue Jays in 2021 and appeared in just one game.

Toronto designated him for assignment, and the Orioles claimed him off waivers on Nov. 8, 2021.

Was that a mistake? In hindsight, sure, but one big-league appearance gave the Jays almost nothing to evaluate, and it took him years and another stop to become this pitcher.

Blaming Toronto for this one is lazy hindsight. The real lesson is the one Adam Steinmetz made about Louis Varland: elite closers come out of nowhere.

Baker is proof. He entered 2026 with barely any closing experience and still joined the group of relievers who piled up 30-plus saves.

Finding a closer is like panning for gold. You sift through a lot of gravel, and sometimes the nugget turns up in someone else's pan.

That's why Toronto shouldn't overvalue its own ninth inning. If the next Baker is sitting in somebody's Triple-A bullpen, the Jays can afford to sell high on Varland.

For now, the 31-year-old owns the October spotlight. Every save he collects against Cleveland will remind Toronto fans of one more name that got away.