Complete list of former Orioles players playing in the 2026 World Series (and why they left)

The World Series will once again feature two teams that are not in fact the Baltimore Orioles. Not exactly breaking news, but it is worth noting that it has now been over 40 seasons since the Orioles have appeared in the Fall Classic. While that sounds like a cruel reminder regarding the team’s futility over the last several decades, it highlights just how difficult it is to even get a chance to play baseball in October. 

It also doesn’t hide the fact that the Orioles have had their fair share of great players in recent years either. Just look at this postseason. As the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays gear up to face off in what should be a highly-entertaining series, it is important to note the impactful contributions that a number of former Orioles have had to help their current teams get to this point.     

It may not help soothe Orioles fans’ frustrations with missing out on all of the excitement, but it is a little fun to see just how well a few of these players are still doing this postseason. 

Three former Orioles have had a mixed bag of results for the Brewers this postseason

As the top team in the National League, the Brewers have had one heck of a season. They accomplished that feat by having one of the most well-rounded teams in all of baseball. With an elite offense that scored 5.14 runs per game, a pitching staff that held opponents to just 3.81 runs a game, and a defense that finished with the fifth most Defensive Runs Saved in the league, there aren’t many holes on the Brewers. There are three former Orioles who helped in all three of those departments this season.    

Joey Ortiz 

Joey Ortiz has never been known for his bat, but he has struggled at the plate this postseason with the Brewers. He has gone just 2-17 in six games, striking out six times. To put it nicely, he’s left a lot to be desired inside that batter’s box for the Brewers. But the team will need his strong glove in the infield if they want to get past the Rays. With 17 Outs Above Average during the regular season, he was one of the Brewers best defenders all year.   

That type of defense is exactly why he was highly regarded in the Orioles minor league system for years. Although he was never considered “the guy” after being drafted in 2019, Ortiz showed flashes of brilliance throughout his four seasons in the organization. But when the opportunity to acquire Corbin Burnes from the Brewers presented itself, the Orioles didn’t hesitate to include Ortiz in the package with DL Hall to get the deal done in 2024.  

DL Hall 

Speaking of DL Hall, he has been one of the most trusted relievers in the pen all season for Brewers manager Pat Murphy. And that’s for good reason. Hall had a 1.91 ERA in 61.1 innings of work for the Brew Crew in 2026. With a minuscule 4.3 hits per nine rate in the regular season, Hall led all Brewers’ relievers. Which is a good thing because he has struggled with his command at times in 2026. In four appearances this postseason, Hall has walked just two batters. He will need to keep that up against the Rays, who will take advantage of extra base runners.   

Hall’s wildness was always one of the biggest things holding him back during his time in the Orioles’ organization. When he was able to command the strike zone, Hall was one of Baltimore’s most promising pitching prospects for years. Despite that potential, the Orioles included Hall in the deal to acquire Burnes from the Brewers. The move helped Baltimore reach the postseason in the short term, but they could probably use a pitcher like Hall moving forward. 

Gary Sanchez

Gary Sanchez has seen just one plate appearance for the Brewers this postseason, earning a walk against the San Diego Padres. That’s good for a perfect 1.000 OBP, so that’s certainly something. With a few tough lefties in the Rays bullpen, Sanchez could be called upon for a clutch at-bat as a pinch hitter in the World Series. With a career .615 OPS in the postseason, he’s never been a great player in October. But with his power, he still remains a threat. 

It would be very easy to forget that Gary Sanchez ever played for the Orioles. He played in just 29 games for the team in 2025. He wasn’t exactly horrible at the plate, but he was nowhere good enough to justify bringing back in free agency this season. In 91 at-bats, Sanchez smacked five home runs and drove in 24 runs for the Orioles. He’s offered the Brewers about the same level of production in 2026. 

Five former Orioles have given division rival Rays a leg up in the American League

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Rays battled through a number of tough teams to clinch the pennant in the American League. They’ve made it look fairly easy as well. Like the Brewers, the Rays also excelled in all three facets of the game to rise to the top. With a strong pitching staff, a dangerous offense, and the second-highest DRS in baseball throughout the regular season, the Rays are in the World Series for a reason. Five former Orioles have helped make that happen.    

Bryan Baker

As perhaps the most impactful player on this entire list, Bryan Baker has become one of the most dominant closers in all of baseball for the Rays. He led the league with 41 saves thanks to his 1.44 ERA and 0.914 WHIP in 62.1 innings pitched this season. With a lethal fastball and changeup combination, Baker has continued his dominance in the postseason. Through seven appearances, he has notched five saves and not allowed a single run. 

In four seasons with the Orioles, Baker was good, but he wasn’t lights-out good. He appeared in 173 games for the team, sporting a 3.73 ERA. But with just three saves in that stretch, perhaps the Orioles were using him wrong? Either way, he found himself in a trade to the Rays in July 2025. Baltimore received a Competitive Balance Round A Draft pick and Tampa Bay received an elite closer that could help them win their first World Series. Seems fair. 

Tyler Wells 

Tyler Wells had looked great coming out of the bullpen for Tampa Bay in the regular season, sporting a 0.722 WHIP in 18 innings of work. However, after suffering through forearm tightness in September, things looked bleak for the former Orioles reliever. But after a month on the shelf, he was added to the Rays ALCS roster. Wells was rocked for four earned runs in four appearances, but it was clear he still had some rust to shake off. He could become a weapon against some of the Brewers’ best left-handed hitters like Christian Yelich, Brice Turang, and Jake Bauers. 

As one of the more intriguing bullpen arms available at the trade deadline, the Rays swooped in and acquired Wells to shore up their bullpen. You may question why a team would help out their divisional rival. But the move saw the return of pitcher Michael Forret to Baltimore, a prospect they have thought highly of since they originally drafted him in 2023.  

Cedric Mullins

This one is certainly bittersweet because Cedric Mullins was always a fan favorite in Baltimore. With a 50/50 chance to win a World Series ring for the first time in his career, Orioles fans may be very excited for Mullins. However, that chance happening with the Rays may also be a tough pill to swallow. Through just four at-bats with the Rays this postseason, Mullins is 1-4. That one hit was a home run against the Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS though. His playing time in the World Series will likely remain sparse, but he could still have a big impact in a pinch-hitting situation.     

With a record well below the .500 mark at the trade deadline in 2025, the Orioles put on a very familiar hat and became one of baseball’s top sellers. Since Mullins was a pending free agent at the end of the season, it made sense for the club to deal him to the New York Mets. Not only did Mullins head to a team that was viewed as a strong contender for the postseason, but it resulted in the Orioles acquiring pitcher Anthony Nunez. It was a pretty solid deal all around. 

Jorge Mateo 

The Rays are essentially the king of adding discarded players and finding real use for them. Jorge Matero appears to be another one of those players. As the team’s backup infielder, Mateo has been dreadful at the plate. But as a glove-first option off the bench, he has found his way into four postseason games for the Rays in 2026. Unlike Mullins, you shouldn’t expect to see Mateo receive any meaningful at-bats in the World Series. But he could score a run or two as a pinch runner. 

Once upon a time, Jorge Mateo was one of the New York Yankees’ top prospects. With elite speed and a strong bat, he appeared to have a bright future in front of him. However, when Mateo joined the Orioles in 2021, he was already on his fourth MLB organization and it seemed like he was treading towards bust territory. But in five seasons in Baltimore, Mateo provided some decent value as an infield option. Just not enough value to keep around forever. The Orioles declined Mateo’s option in 2025 and he signed with the Atlanta Braves back in January before eventually winding up on the Rays in August.   

Cole Suser 

Cole Suser has a very interesting career throughout his eight seasons in the big leagues. He actually made his MLB debut with the Rays in 2019, tossing scoreless 7.1 innings in seven appearances. However, he was designated for assignment later that year before the Orioles claimed the right-handed pitcher. Winding up in the World Series with the Rays is something of a full-circle moment for the 36-year-old. 

Suser experienced a slight up-and-down tenure with the Orioles in his two seasons in Baltimore. After sporting a 5.56 ERA during his rocky 2020 season, Suser came back the following season and became a very reliable pitcher out of the Orioles’ bullpen. He struck out a career-high 72 batters in 63.1 innings of work in 2021. Despite that strong showing, he was dealt to the Miami Marlins alongside fellow reliever Tanner Scott in exchange for a handful of prospects in April 2022. The Orioles have yet to see any MLB action from those prospects. 

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