AUGUST 6, 2025 – Riv, Bash and Oscar, the popular featured characters of the award-winning HexClad Presents Bronx Buds original series, will have new “teammates” – namely the YES Network’s Michael Kay, John Flaherty, Meredith Marakovits and Nancy Newman – when the series returns for its second season Saturday, August 9 on the YES Network within The Gotham Sports App.

HexClad Presents Bronx Buds, 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, the series shines a spotlight on Riv, Bash, and Oscar as they chase their dreams on and off the diamond.

The quartet of YES Yankees voices -- play-by-play man Michael Kay, analyst John Flaherty, clubhouse reporter Meredith Marakovits and studio host Nancy Newman all play significant roles in Season Two. Kay plays a hero who saves the Bronx Buds, Flaherty portrays a legendary baseball player while Marakovits and Newman are news reporters.

HexClad Presents Bronx Buds won a Hashtag Sports Award earlier this year in the “Best Use of Animation or Motion Graphics” category and was a finalist in two additional categories. The Hashtag Awards celebrate excellence in engagement in the sports, media and entertainment industries.

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.

“I have always been told I’m somewhat cartoonish, and now I really am!” said Michael Kay. “The voice over process was really fascinating and the way I worked hand-in-hand with the creators was such a cool experience. Being part of this brings me back to my youthful days of watching the Flintstones and the Jetsons, but now I am armed with the knowledge of the hard work that goes into it all.”

The lovable animated characters are voiced by the likes of Tzero Studios co-founders Justin Shenkarow, an Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner, and Tom Borowski. Tzero Studios members working on this series have also worked on iconic shows such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Hey Arnold! (for which Shenkarow voiced the character Harold Berman), Beavis and Butthead and Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas.

Each of the six Season Two 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 9. 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 original app-exclusive programming, which also includes series such as The Story of My Number Presented by New York Lottery, Home Plate: New York with celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson and the Emmy Award-winning Bronx Beat.

This series 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.