The Rays and Brewers are an unconventional World Series pairing, but make no mistake: talent is not lacking.
Tampa Bay and Milwaukee didn't achieve the best records in their respective leagues by coincidence. While they didn't build their rosters the same way some of baseball's other contenders did, the Rays and Brewers went into October with a blend of talent and depth that set the stage for a historic World Series meeting.
If you don't know all of the names and faces that got the two Fall Classic teams to this point, though, you certainly aren't alone.
Here are the top players in the 2026 World Series, from Jacob Misiorowski to Jonathan Aranda.
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12. Jake Bauers, 1B, Brewers
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- Age: 31
- 2026 stats: 144 G, .266 AVG, 26 HR, 86 RBI, .874 OPS
A former Rays prospect, Jake Bauers struggled to stick as an everyday player until breaking out this season in Milwaukee. It doesn't look like a fluke.
After changing his approach and walking 94 times in the regular season to go along with 26 home runs, Bauers has been a lightning rod in the postseason; his at-bat against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2 of the ALCS completely changed the game, and he did the same in Game 3 when he fought off several Blake Snell pitches before taking him deep for a go-ahead home run. Until he proves otherwise, Bauers has to be treated as a dangerous hitter by opposing pitchers.
11. Jonathan Aranda, 1B, Rays
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- Age: 28
- 2026 stats: 155 G, .274 AVG, 22 HR, 92 RBI, .792 OPS
Jonathan Aranda was one of baseball's breakout bats in 2025, batting .316 with an .883 OPS before a fractured wrist brought his season to a halt. While he didn't hit for contact this season like he did in 2026, Aranda flashed some power with 22 home runs and posted an OPS+ north of 120 for the second consecutive season. After a quiet start to the ALCS, Aranda is hoping a pair of multi-hit games late in the series are a preview of how his World Series will go.
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10. Abner Uribe, RP, Brewers
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- Age: 26
- 2026 stats: 59.1 IP, 1.97 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 62 K
The Brewers' bullpen is really a take-your-pick group. You could make the case for Trevor Megill, Aaron Ashby and even DL Hall, with the way he's been pitching, as the best arm in the 'pen. Abner Uribe probably has the most electrifying arm of the bunch. The 26-year-old is coming off back-to-back seasons with a sub-2 ERA, has figured out how to rein in control issues and has some must-see strikeout celebrations.
9. Freddy Peralta, SP, Rays
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- Age: 30
- 2026 stats: 169.0 IP, 4.42 ERA, 156 K, 1.33 WHIP
The numbers don't tell you Freddy Peralta is one of the Rays' most essential players, but Tampa Bay appears to have molded the former Brewers ace back into a high-level starter. Peralta finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting last season, posting his third consecutive season of at least 200 strikeouts, but he was a mess after being traded to the Mets and struggled out of the gate with the Rays as well.
In September, that flipped. Peralta earned AL Pitcher of the Month honors, and he's carried it over into October with a 1.08 ERA across 16.2 innings. If the Brewers are facing the Peralta they had last season, they are in for a challenge.
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8. Bryan Baker, CL, Rays
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- Age: 31
- 2026 stats: 62.1 IP, 1.44 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 41 SV
Bryan Baker is another Rays success story, as he was a pedestrian middle reliever with the Orioles before being traded to Tampa Bay weeks before the 2025 trade deadline. After a rocky finish last year, Baker transformed into one of baseball's elite closers this season with a 1.44 ERA and 41 saves — from mid-May onward, he allowed just four earned runs. Baker has kept it up in the postseason, allowing just one hit over seven appearances.
7. William Contreras, C, Brewers
- Age: 28
- 2026 stats: 147 G, .270 AVG, 18 HR, 94 RBI
William Contreras posted the lowest full-season OPS of his career this season, but if this is his worst season, there isn't anything to complain about. The three-time All-Star still handles full-time catching duties for Milwaukee and has steadily been one of the Brewers' better bats over the last four seasons even without being heavy on power. In this postseason, Contreras has been lethal with a 1.157 OPS.
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6. Yandy Diaz, DH, Rays
Mar 17, 2026; Port Charlotte, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Yandy Diaz (2) hits a ground rule double against the New York Yankees in the third inning during spring training at Charlotte Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
- Age: 35
- 2026 stats: 154 G, .293 AVG, 22 HR, 85 RBI, .805 OPS
A late-bloomer in Cleveland, it's hard to believe Yandy Diaz is already 35 and finishing up his eighth season with the Rays. Diaz is the veteran anchor of a Tampa Bay team that usually doesn't keep players around this long, and he remains one of the engines behind Tampa Bay's success. Diaz is a .299 hitter over the last five seasons, and he's squashed the narrative that he's just a slap hitter by hitting 47 home runs over the last two years.
5. Drew Rasmussen, SP, Rays
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- Age: 31
- 2026 stats: 172.0 IP, 2.67 ERA, 174 K, 0.91 WHIP
Drew Rasmussen actually broke into the majors as a reliever with the Brewers before being traded to the Rays in the Willy Adames deal more than five years ago. True to their reputation, the Rays developed Rasmussen from a versatile bullpen arm into one of the AL's true aces. Rasmussen turned in his best season yet in 2026, posting a 2.67 ERA over 30 starts and likely earning himself a top-five finish in Cy Young voting.
4. Brice Turang, 2B, Brewers
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- Age: 26
- 2026 stats: 151 G, .268 AVG, 21 HR, 100 RBI, .816 OPS
Brice Turang didn't arrive in the majors with the fanfare of Jackson Chourio, but he continues to be the engine that keeps the Brewers going. Always a terrific defender in the middle infield, Turang broke through at the plate with a .794 OPS in 2025 and took another step forward again this season with 21 home runs, 100 RBI and a career-best .816 OPS. Turang was a 7-WAR player this season — if he can play something like this for another 5-7 years, he might enter some surprising conversations.
3. Jackson Chourio, OF, Brewers
- Age: 22
- 2026 stats: 127 G, .291 AVG, 25 HR, 75 RBI, .837 OPS
It was easy for Jackson Chourio's stardom to be overshadowed by Misiorowski this season, but after missing an early portion of the year with injury, he continued to look ahead of the curve as someone who won't turn 23 until next March. The former top prospect is one of baseball's most consistent contact hitters and has a flair for the dramatic even as one of MLB's youngest everyday players.
2. Junior Caminero, 3B, Rays
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- Age: 23
- 2026 stats: 162 G, .276 AVG, 42 HR, 101 RBI, .885 OPS
Junior Caminero quickly put the rest the idea that his breakthrough 2025 campaign was just the result of the Rays being displaced from Tropicana Field, as he followed up a 45-home run season with 42 more bombs and a higher OPS. The two-time All-Star just turned 23 in July, has electric home run celebrations and is already has a case to be the best pure hitter in Rays history. After a slow start to the postseason, an exciting display in Tampa Bay's ALCS clincher could preview what's to come for Caminero in the World Series.
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1. Jacob Misiorowski, SP, Brewers
- Age: 24
- 2026 stats: 174.2 IP, 1.80 ERA, 252 K, 0.80 WHIP
The must-watch player of the World Series is Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski, who is set to win the NL Cy Young Award in his first full season. Misiorowski led all qualified starters in ERA, FIP, strikeouts, WHIP and ERA+ this season, and he throws harder than any other starter in baseball by a wide margin. Even when accounting for relievers, the majority of this season's fastest pitches came from Misiorowski's arm.
A soft-spoken, lanky right-hander, Misiorowski thrives in any situation and will be right at home as he starts Game 1 of the World Series.
