ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The journey to success is often congested with untold circumstances and unfortunate injuries and maladies. Then again, “success” can be defined as several players reaching career-best levels and the necessary elements of cohesion, solidarity and unity.
In the case of the Tampa Bay Rays, their reach high into baseball’s stratosphere was not by accident. Though a well-defined plan often lay in ruins, the Rays’ penchant to gain triumph appeared solidified as early as the opening days of spring training.
The immediate result, but not yet quite the ultimate destination, concluded with a 7-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Oct. 19 and taking the ALCS best-of-seven series in six games. The effort before a sellout crowd of 40,230 in Tropicana Field was accentuated by a pair of two-run homers. The first by Junior Caminero in the seventh off the left field foul pole and an inning later, a 416-foot blast from Yandy Diaz.
Now, the Rays are catapulted into the third World Series appearance in franchise history, and this edition of the Fall Classic opens Oct. 23 against the Brewers in Milwaukee. That destination is now the ultimate World Series title. In two previous World Series appearances, the Rays were defeated by the Phillies and the Dodgers.
To the road to this triumph was as uncertain as this was doubtful.
After compiling a 77-85 mark for the 2025 season, fourth in the American League East and 17 games behind the division-winning New York Yankees, the Rays transformed the ruins of a forgotten summer into a phoenix rising. Somehow, this team captured 98 wins, wrestled the AL East crowd from the Bronx Bombers and amassed the second-best record, behind the Milwaukee Brewers, in Major League Baseball.
“I thought his team really came together, about as well as you could, in spring training,” said Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash before game six in Tropicana Field. “Given the roster turnover which took place, there were many new faces, but you could sense this was a pretty close group.”
Considering the malady of the 2025 season, this achievement is quite noteworthy.
At commencement of spring training, several factors clearly demonstrated why the 2026 version of the Tampa Bay Rays would be less than noteworthy.
Before the championship season commenced in late March, there were more question marks than certainties.
First, the Rays lack power both in the home run and laser shots into the gaps. Granted, Junior Caminero was coming off a 43 home run-110 RBI season, but the remainder of the lineup was subject. Save DH Yandy Diaz and first baseman Jonathan Arnada, the power surge was non-existent.
Then, there was the question of a reliable closer.
Peter Fairbanks, the Rays’ closer for the previous seven seasons, signed as a free agent with Miami. Also, the Rays brought in Cedric Mullins to play centerfield, the existing catching pair in Nick Fortes and Hunter Feduccia was considered weak at the plate, uncertainly among middle relievers prevailed and a starting rotation was compromised by injuries.
The view from baseball heaven was that the Rays would be lucky to play .500 baseball. The start of the season appeared to support that notion.
Opening the season with 9-game road trip to St. Louis, Milwaukee and Minnesota, the Rays dropped five of their opening seven games and quickly fell into fourth place in the AL East.
Then, the jelling factor.
Between April 4 and April 16, the Rays went 7-2 and jumped ahead on the AL East leader board. That surge was enough to tell Cash that this edition of the Rays could exceed the pundits’ expectations.
“Off of that initial road trip, things did not go our way,” Cash added. “We had opportunities to win games, and we came up short several times. That never changed the mindset of how they went about the next day. We got back home, created a little bit of a home field advantage and won a bunch of games. They continued to be really close throughout the season, and definitely throughout the summer.”
One factor attributed to the rise for the Rays was naming Bryan Baker as closer.
For the season, Baker changed the grip on his change-up and as a result, he constantly threw strikes and accurate placement. In the process, the picked up 41 saves and converted 30 straight from May 17 to the end of the season. Across 65 games during the regular season, the 31-year-old from Fort Walton, Fla. went 4-2 and a 1.44 ERA.
“From the moment we first met in spring training, I felt a strong sense of professionalism from this group,” said Baker on the field moments after the Rays punched their ticket to Milwaukee. “There was a great deal of trust. It’s almost like a matter-of-fact. It’s the kind of attitude where everyone shows up, expected do their job and no one tries to do more than themselves.”
Next …After clinching the American League pennant, Rays’ manager Kevin Cash told reporters he just desires “to enjoy the moment.” Immediately, there was no thought of Milwaukee. “It’s easy to appreciate what we’re getting ready to do and the challenges ahead,” he said. “(After game six), I’m probably more appreciative the guys that you go to work on a daily basis and to realize what they just accomplished.” … It’s likely the Rays will open with righthander Drew Rasmussen and then Freddy Peralta, the ALCS MVP, to commence the Series in Milwaukee. In the opener, Rasmussen (2-0, 1.29 ERA in the postseason) will likely draw 24-year-old Jacob Misiorowski, the favorite to win NL Cy Young award, who went 16-5, posted a 1.80 ERA for 30 starts. He recorded 252 strike outs in 174.2 innings. He had one start against the Dodgers in the NLSC with a no decision.
