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Ranking top players in Brewers-Rays World Series - ESPN
From ESPN via USVI News: Here's how the rosters of the Rays and the Brewers stack up and who is primed to do the most jaw-dropping things on baseball's biggest stage.
Kiley McDaniel Oct 22, 2026, 07:00 AM ET
- ESPN MLB Insider
- Kiley McDaniel covers MLB prospects, the MLB Draft and more, including trades and free agency.
- Has worked for three MLB teams.
The Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays were each the top team in their respective league during the regular season -- and that level of talent is reflected on their postseason rosters.
As the two No. 1 seeds prepare to meet in the World Series, we break down the best of the best on both clubs by ranking all 52 expected participants based on how good I think they'll be in the Series and predicting who will take home some superlatives by the time the dust settles.
Let's dig into the stars in a World Series featuring the hardest-throwing ace on the planet and some of the most electric young position players in the sport.
Jump to: Rankings | Superlatives
Ranking every player in the World Series
1. Jacob Misiorowski, SP, Brewers
What else can I say other than to (1) watch him pitch if you somehow haven't yet, and (2) if you haven't, also head over to his Baseball Savant page and see it bleeding with red in every category because he is so elite that analytical scales can't contain him.
He throws harder than any other starter in baseball (averaging 100.6 mph, behind only Mason Miller ), his cutter sits in the mid-90s and his curveball sneaks into the 90s -- which helps explain why all of his pitches are plus. His extension, velocity and shape all make his fastball the best pitch in baseball, so it's not surprising it had the highest run value in baseball. Misiorowski could appear three times in the Series and is my pick to win MVP.
2. Junior Caminero, 3B, Rays
Caminero is an easy player for a casual fan to scout: He is an electric factory at the plate due to both incredible bat speed and a tendency to chase out of the zone. He's second in baseball in home runs over the past two seasons (87), behind only Kyle Schwarber, and is a threat to take over any game with every swing.
3. Drew Rasmussen, SP, Rays
Rasmussen has been underappreciated for years due to lack of prospect track record and durability/injury issues, but he has blossomed into one of the best pitchers in the game this year.
Tampa Bay's ace has four above-average pitches and above-average command, and he could really impact the Series with potentially three starts -- or two starts and a relief appearance.
4. Brice Turang, 2B, Brewers
Turang isn't as flashy as Misiorowski or Caminero but has quietly turned into one of the best players in baseball after showing that potential early in his high school career.
Turang has a strong batting eye along with above-average power, speed and defense, all of which helped him post a 5.9 WAR this season.
5. Jackson Chourio, LF, Brewers
Chourio has been consistent and durable since showing up in the big leagues with an $82 million extension at 20 years old.
He is above-average at all five traditional tools, and curtailing his chase rate a bit could make him one of the best players in the sport.
6. William Contreras, C, Brewers
Contreras is a fine defender but a standout hitter, similar at the same stage to his older brother, Willson.
William has regularly posted.350+ on-base percentages and 20 or so homers every season, which is truly elite for an every-day catcher.
7. Garrett Mitchell, CF, Brewers
Mitchell has elite speed, arm strength, defensive ability and bat speed. He has had trouble staying healthy in the past, but not this season; so now, his swing-and-miss is the thing holding back his tools from making him an even better player.
8. Jake Bauers, 1B, Brewers
Bauers is journeyman who, like Andrew Vaughn below, has found himself with the Brewers. There's some swing-and-miss to his game, and he doesn't offer a ton of defensive value, but he can hit and has been hot this postseason.
9. Freddy Peralta, SP, Rays
The Rays acquired Peralta at the deadline and spiked his changeup usage while lowering his slider usage, which altered his approach against right-handed hitters a good bit. His peripherals dropped at least a half-run while his ERA dropped almost two full runs. And he has been good in the playoffs too, which is great timing as he is set to hit the free agent market after the season.
10. Cooper Pratt, SS, Brewers
This article is republished through the USVI News affiliate desk. Reporting, analysis, and viewpoints are those of the original publisher and do not necessarily reflect USVI News.