The 2026 World Series may not feature the Dodgers, but their fingerprints are all over it.
When the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays line up, there will be former Dodgers on both rosters - and a couple more who could still wind up with championship rings depending on how things shake out. Los Angeles isn’t part of the Fall Classic after its sweep of Milwaukee made the National League pecking order plain, but the Dodgers’ presence lingers in a few unexpected places.
Tampa Bay’s most visible Dodgers link is Jonny DeLuca, a former Dodgers prospect who made his major league debut with Los Angeles before landing with the Rays. He has become their everyday center fielder and has carved out a solid role with his defense and league-average bat.
DeLuca also came over in the Tyler Glasnow deal, the one that sent the towering right-hander to Los Angeles. On the other side of that swap, pitching prospect Ryan Pepiot has not pitched at all this season.
The Rays also had Michael Grove in the mix. Another former Dodgers prospect, Grove signed a major league deal with Tampa Bay in the offseason, made three appearances, and later finished the year with the Atlanta Braves. Gavin Lux is also listed with the Rays after being traded there, though injuries kept him from appearing.
That means Pepiot and Lux are in position to receive rings if Tampa Bay completes the run, while Grove and DeLuca are already locked in as contributors to the season.
Milwaukee’s lone ex-Dodger is Dustin May, who arrived midseason after initially signing with the St. Louis Cardinals over the offseason.
His numbers haven’t been pretty with the Brewers: a 5.65 ERA and a 5.06 FIP in the regular season. The postseason hasn’t helped much either.
He has thrown seven innings, given up five runs and seven hits, and struck out five while walking two.
Even so, May would still be in line for a ring if the Brewers close out the World Series.
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