AUGUST 6, 2026 – Former New York Yankees fan favorite Nick Swisher, along with Chauncey Leopardi, the actor who played Michael ‘Squints’ Palledorous in the enduring 1993 hit movie The Sandlot, will star in the third season of the multiple award-winning HexClad Presents Bronx Buds series, which premieres this Saturday, August 8 exclusively on the Emmy Award-winning The Gotham Sports App.
Swisher and Leopardi will join Riv, Bash and Oscar, the popular featured characters of the animated, baseball-themed children’s series that follows the captivating adventures of members of a fictitious Bronx-based youth baseball team, the Bronx Buds. Bursting with laughter, life lessons, unexpected curveballs and unbreakable friendships, HexClad Presents Bronx Buds shines a spotlight on Riv, Bash, and Oscar as they chase their dreams on and off the diamond.
HexClad Presents Bronx Buds aims to foster lifelong bonds, instill a love of baseball and promote team spirit and values, all the while growing a community of fans whose love for baseball can be passed down from generation to generation. Each of the series’ characters, including Riv, Bash and Oscar, has a distinct personality, unique backstory and a critical role on the team.
HexClad Presents Bronx Buds has won Hashtag Sports Awards the past two years in the ”Best Use of Animation or Motion Graphics” category. The Hashtag Awards celebrate excellence in engagement in the sports, media and entertainment industries. The series also won a 2025 New York Emmy Award in the “Children/Youth (12 and Under): Short or Long Form Content” category and scored two 2026 New York Emmy nominations last month.
“Baseball has given me so much throughout my life, and anytime I get the chance to help inspire the next generation of fans, I’m all in!,” said Swisher. “Bronx Buds is packed with heart, teamwork, and a whole lot of fun! I can’t wait for kids and families to enjoy the adventure together! I had a blast!”
“Bronx Buds is a fun show about a shared love for America’s pass time. In a time ruled by travel ball and orchestrated sports, we could all use ‘The Bronx’ attitude of just getting on the block and putting a stick to a ball,” said Leopardi. “Teamwork and love for the game remains triumphant. Can’t wait for everyone to see what this season has in store!”
Each of the six Season Three episodes of HexClad Presents Bronx Buds is approximately seven minutes in length, with new episodes premiering on The Gotham Sports App on the subsequent five Saturdays after August 8. Viewers can expect a new storyline in each episode as the Bronx Buds rely on teamwork and friendship to navigate the challenges of elementary school and youth sports.
The series is available to registered users of The Gotham Sports App in YES’ regional coverage territory, which includes New York State, Connecticut, north and central New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania, as well as to subscribers of the YES National feed throughout the country who have The Gotham Sports App.
HexClad Presents Bronx Buds is just one member of The Gotham Sports App’s roster of programs which also includes series such as the multiple Emmy Award-winning The Story of My Number Presented by New York Lottery, the Emmy Award-winning Bronx Beat, Home Plate: New York with celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, and Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship programming.
HexClad Presents Bronx Buds is a component of HexClad’s larger partnership as the “Official Kitchenware Partner” of the YES Network and the New York Yankees. The partnership uniquely pairs the iconic baseball franchise and the pre-eminent regional sports network with the world’s most innovative kitchenware brand across creative initiatives.
About Tzero Studios:
Tzero Studios is a global animation studio focused on creating original sports-themed content that captivates the next generation of fans. We specialize in building unique and original intellectual properties that resonate with audiences worldwide, transforming the way kids view and engage with sports. Check out the Tzero website for more info on the Bronx Buds: www.tzerostudios.com.
About HexClad:
HexClad is a global premium kitchenware brand renowned for its innovation. Headquartered in Los Angeles, HexClad designs and sells branded kitchenware products including cookware, cutlery, cutting boards, aprons and pioneering kitchen tools through direct-to-consumer channels and strategic retail relationships. Founded in 2016, HexClad disrupted the industry with its patented hybrid technology, combining stainless steel with non-stick, delivering exceptional performance, durability and ease of use. The company’s mission is to empower cooks of all levels with revolutionary products that break rules and challenge convention. This ethos has built a following of engaged brand loyalists worldwide. In 2023, HexClad was recognized on the Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing brands in America. To learn more, visit www.hexclad.com.
About The Gotham Sports App:
The Gotham Sports App, the exclusive TV Everywhere and DTC streaming home of the YES Network and MSG Networks, provides New York sports fans with access to their favorite programming and teams all in one location. Fans who subscribe to MSG and YES through The Gotham Sports App can receive more than 500 live games featuring the New York Yankees, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres. The Gotham Sports App is a product of Gotham Advanced Media and Entertainment (“GAME”), the digital joint venture between the YES Network and MSG Networks.