Blake Snell got ten pitches into a seventh-inning at-bat against Jake Bauers in Game 3 of the 2026 NLCS. The 11th was a fastball. Bauers sent it a projected 412 feet into the right-field seats at Dodger Stadium, turning a tie into a Milwaukee lead. Anyone who saw only the swing missed the best part: how long he had to stay in the at-bat to get that pitch. MLB’s Game 3 account.

On November 13, ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported that Bauers and the Boston Red Sox had agreed to a four-year, $58 million contract. MLB.com confirmed the agreement through a source and reported that it was pending a physical. The club had not announced the deal at the time of that report. MLB.com’s Red Sox report.

The news gives the Boston Red Sox collection a new bit of baseball wordplay. “Rake Bauers” is a nickname already listed by Baseball Reference, not one the Boston deal invented. The new setting gives it a second life, and the two graphics here play it differently: one keeps the joke at the plate, the other gives it a pair of lawn rakes. Baseball Reference player profile.

The two October at-bats that explain Boston’s interest

One night before the home run, Bauers saw 12 pitches from Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2 and walked. Christian Yelich followed with a go-ahead two-run single. The walk and the homer are worth putting side by side. One extended a rally for the next hitter, the other finished the job himself. Bauers drove in six runs in Milwaukee’s sweep of the Dodgers and won NLCS MVP before the Brewers went on to claim their first World Series title. MLB’s NLCS MVP recap.

“I mean, what an at-bat. I threw everything I had.” Blake Snell on facing Bauers, in MLB’s Game 3 report

What the Red Sox are betting on

The October moments made Bauers easier to recognize, but the reported contract is a bet on what happened over 144 regular-season games. He hit .266 with a .389 on-base percentage, 26 homers and 86 RBIs. That was a breakout, not his established career baseline. For a Boston team that finished 26th in home runs, the appeal is clear. The question is whether he can keep reaching base and hitting for power at that rate. MLB’s free-agent profile and Boston roster analysis.

His position is a separate question. Willson Contreras already gives Boston an established first baseman. Bauers also played the corner outfield in Milwaukee, and designated hitter is another possible route to at-bats. That’s what makes the move interesting: Boston appears to be buying the bat first and sorting out the lineup card second.

One nickname, two ways to draw the joke

In baseball, to “rake” means to hit well, especially with authority. The navy graphic takes that meaning literally on the field: big red “RAKE BAUERS” lettering frames an illustrated swing. The red “Yard Work Co.” version takes the word literally off the field. Crossed leaf rakes and arched navy lettering make it look like the emblem of a neighborhood landscaping crew. The first reads like a nickname shouted from the stands. The second looks like the crew has already printed its work shirts.

The October at-bats still belong to Milwaukee. The Boston chapter starts with a reported deal and a nickname that travels well. Find more Jake Bauers designs alongside the Milwaukee Brewers collection and the broader MLB collection.

Jake Bauers and the Red Sox FAQ

Did Jake Bauers agree to a deal with the Boston Red Sox?

ESPN and MLB.com reported on November 13, 2026, that Bauers agreed to a four-year, $58 million deal with Boston. MLB.com reported that the agreement was pending a physical.

Why is Jake Bauers called “Rake Bauers”?

“Rake Bauers” swaps Jake for baseball slang. To rake is to hit well, especially with authority. The Yard Work Co. design turns that slang into a literal joke with crossed leaf rakes.

What did Jake Bauers do in the 2026 NLCS?

Bauers won NLCS MVP after driving in six runs in Milwaukee’s sweep of the Dodgers. In Game 3, he hit a go-ahead two-run homer off Blake Snell on the 11th pitch of the at-bat.