*Header picture via mlb.com
While we are focusing on games closer to home in the OSSAA Fall Season Regionals, let’s not forget that Major League Baseball is starting their postseason today.
Four best of 3 series will begin in the Wild Card round with 2 in the American League and 2 in the National League.
The state of Oklahoma has a total of 6 players that are currently on active rosters with ties to the Sooner State playing in these series. (This does not necessarily mean they will be on the Wild Card roster, however.)
Let’s take a look at them.
American League
New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox
- Tim Hill (NYY), Bacone College ’14
- Payton Tolle (BOS), Bethany High School ’21
- Jake Bennett (BOS), Bixby High School ’19/OU ’22
- Wyatt Olds (BOS), McLoud High School ’18/OU ’21
For the Yankees, Tim Hill, is the lone representative from Oklahoma. He spent 3 years at now defunct Bacone College before being drafted in the 32nd round of the 2014 draft.
After 2 years with Kansas City, Hill spent 4 seasons in San Diego. He was a late season pick up by the Yankees in 2024 from the White Sox and he has forged himself a role out of the Yankees bullpen throwing 70 innings in 2025 and 67 this year.
2026: G 67, 5-2, 2 SV, 4.60 ERA, 58.2 IP, 54 H, 13 BB, 25 K (10 HLD)
Payton Tolle of the Red Sox has taken the league by storm this season. Although he debuted late in 2025, Tolle was still eligible to be considered a rookie this season. While he probably won’t win the AL Rookie of the Year award, Tolle is one of the favorites to be in the top 3.
Tolle has been so good this year, the Red Sox have tabbed him to start Game 1 of the Wild Card series vs the Yankees.
2026: G/GS 26, 9-6, 3.03 ERA, 148.2 IP, 123 H, 40 BB, 171 K
Once one of the Washington Nationals top prospect, Jake Bennett was traded to the Red Sox in December of 2025.
The Red Sox called Bennett up for the first time on May 1, but he was back down in AAA on May 8.
On June 10, Bennett was back up with the Red Sox for good as he’s been impressive for Boston in their rotation ever since.
2026: G 20, GS 19, 9-7, 3.65 ERA, 113.1 IP, 104 H, 21 BB, 91 K
Wyatt Olds will be an interesting case to see if he’ll be on the Wild Card roster for Boston. Olds made his MLB debut this season after being called up the first time on August 17. He was called up again on September 1, but sent back down on September 20.
Olds was recalled on the last day of the season to pitch in the Red Sox final game. Since he is on the 40 man roster and was on the roster active roster on September 1, Olds is technically eligible to be on the Wild Card roster, but those rosters are smaller than the active rosters in September.
Either way, you should look for Olds to be a part of the Red Sox MLB roster in 2027.
UPDATE: Olds was named a part of the Red Sox Wild Card roster on Tuesday morning.
2026: G 14, 2-0, 1.15 ERA, 15.2 IP, 11 H, 8 BB, 20 K
Houston Astros vs Chicago White Sox
- Steven Okert (HOU), OU ’12
- David Sandlin (CWS), Owasso HS ’19, Eastern OK State ’21, OU ’22
Steven Okert has quietly had himself a nice career in the Majors. Debuting with San Francisco in 2016, Okert has pitched for 4 teams (SF, Miami, Minnesota, and Houston).
Over the last 2 seasons, Okert has been a staple out of the bullpen for the Astros appearing in 68 games each season. Unfortunately, Okert was left off the Wild Card roster after missing the last month with a hamstring injury.
2026: G 68, 6-2, 2.13 ERA, 67.2 IP, 45 H, 14 BB, 68 K
David Sandlin was traded from the Red Sox to the White Sox in February of this year, and that provided him a clearer path to the big leagues which Sandlin made his MLB debit on May 26
It was an up and down season between Chicago and Charlotte (AAA) for Sandlin as he was called up to the Bigs a total of 4 times.
If he is on the Wild Card roster for the White Sox, Sandlin could be a long reliever as well as a starter.
2026: G 8, GS 6, 3-2, 5.58 ERA, 40.1 IP, 36 H, 13 BB, 40 K
Philadelphia Phillies vs Atlanta Braves
- JT Realmuto (PHI), Carl Albert High School ’10
JR Realmuto has been one of the best catchers of his generation. He’s a 3x All Star, 2x All MLB First Team, 2x Gold Glove winner, and 3x Silver Slugger.
At age 35, Realmuto has slowed down in production and games played, but he is still a productive catcher as he caught 122 games for the Phillies in 2026.
2026: G 123, .205/.283/.331, 11 HR, 51 RBI, 19 2B, 37 BB, 52 R, 3 SB
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