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World Series 2026: Top Brewers and Rays players you might not know but probably should

As the 122nd World Series kicks off in Milwaukee, attention often gravitates toward the marquee names, yet the rosters of the Brewers and Rays are filled with essential contributors who could sway the outcome. Among these lesser-known but vital figures is Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, who has established himself as a top-tier American League starter despite enduring two Tommy John surgeries in college and an internal brace procedure in 2023.

Since transitioning to a full-time starting role in 2022, Rasmussen has posted a 2.74 ERA, a mark that places him fourth among pitchers with at least 500 innings, trailing only Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, and Chris Sale. His path to Tampa Bay was unconventional, as he was originally drafted by the Rays after his junior year at Oregon State but remained in school, eventually debuting with the Brewers in 2020 before being traded to the Rays as the primary return for Willy Adames.

On the Brewers side, first baseman Jake Bauers has emerged as a breakout slugger in this postseason, engaging in prolonged at-bats against Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell. Bauers' career has been marked by significant movement, having been drafted out of high school by San Diego and subsequently traded to the Rays, where he made his major-league debut in 2018.

After struggling to find a permanent home with several organizations, he even considered retiring before returning to the game, with Milwaukee now serving as his seventh MLB team.

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