Baseball, MLB

A World Series That Celebrates Baseball’s Excitement, Diversity and Latino Flavor

CABO ROJO, PUERTO RICO — Tomorrow, Friday, October 23rd, we begin the final chapter of Major League Baseball’s 2026 season with the games every team dreams of reaching: the World Series.

This year’s Fall Classic may not be the matchup many fans across the country anticipated, but it promises something just as exciting: two teams that have battled their way to baseball’s biggest stage, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers, representing markets that rarely receive the national attention afforded to baseball’s biggest franchises.

The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays will face off in the 2026 World Series!

This is the 4th time since 2000 where the World Series matchup will be between each league’s top seed 👀 pic.twitter.com/pKErHt8mfj

— MLB (@MLB) October 20, 2026

I know many were expecting the Los Angeles Dodgers to make history by capturing a third consecutive World Series championship, something no National League team has accomplished. Meanwhile, countless New York Yankees fans were hoping their team would return to the Fall Classic and finally end its championship drought, which dates back to 2009.

It wasn’t just Dodgers and Yankees fans dreaming of a World Series between these two storied franchises.

I can assure you that MLB executives were also hoping for that highly marketable matchup.

The Dodgers captured the first of their most recent two World Series championship titles in 2024 at Yankee Stadium by defeating the Yankees 4-1 in their best of seven Fall Classic – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports

Think about it: the Dodgers, one of baseball’s biggest attractions on the West Coast, facing the Yankees, the sport’s most recognizable franchise on the East Coast. With the Dodgers ranking among the league leaders in attendance and the Yankees drawing enormous crowds—the potential advertising revenue and national attention would have been a dream scenario for MLB—like we all had experienced in 2024.

But baseball has a way of reminding us that the game is not played in corporate boardrooms or decided by marketing departments. The baseball gods had other plans!

Instead, we have two teams that may not command the same national following or financial resources as the Dodgers and Yankees but have earned their place through outstanding play. While the Brewers and Rays have operated with budgets that pale in comparison to those of baseball’s wealthiest franchises, they have demonstrated that success is not reserved for teams with the deepest pockets or the biggest names.

One of these teams will win its first World Series in franchise history

Is the trophy headed to Tampa Bay or Milwaukee?#NoTimeLikeOctober pic.twitter.com/Vj1uBHYnFM

— MLB (@MLB) October 22, 2026

They have played some of the most compelling baseball of the season, earning the opportunity to compete for the ultimate prize both with the best record in both leagues. The Brewers ended the season with an impressive, 103-59-win loss record and the Rays ended their season with the best in the American league with a 98-64 record.

And perhaps that is one of the most beautiful things about baseball: you don’t have to be a big-market team to produce big-time excitement.

There is another important ingredient that deserves recognition as we prepare for this World Series: the contributions of 26 Latino players and coaches, whose talent, passion and unmistakable flair have added another dimension to the excitement of postseason baseball.

Junior Caminero's moment. #NoTimeLikeOctober pic.twitter.com/RcULZApmyO

— MLB (@MLB) October 20, 2026

Throughout these playoffs, Latino players have helped turn outstanding performances into unforgettable moments. Whether at the plate, on the bases or in the field, their athleticism, energy and emotional expression have brought a special kind of electricity to the game.

The celebrations, the intensity, the swagger and the unfiltered joy of competition remind us that baseball is not just about statistics and strategy.

It is also about personality, culture and the human emotion that makes sports so compelling.

A trip around the bases, William Contreras style 🍿 pic.twitter.com/N1tcibhsKv

— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2026

For generations, Latino ballplayers have enriched Major League Baseball with their talent and distinctive approach to the game. They have brought speed, creativity, defensive brilliance, power and an infectious enthusiasm that connects with fans from every background. When those qualities are on display during the postseason, the result is baseball that is not only competitive but thoroughly entertaining.

That is why I am especially looking forward to this World Series. Beyond the matchup itself, I want to see how these two clubs continue to challenge expectations and demonstrate what makes baseball such a wonderful game. We should expect excellent pitching, spectacular defensive plays and runs manufactured through timely hitting, stolen bases, bunting and smart, aggressive baseball.

And let’s not overlook the managers. In a game increasingly influenced by computer-generated statistics and analytics, there is something refreshing about watching managers trust their experience, instincts and understanding of their players. Analytics certainly have their place, but so do human judgment, chemistry and the ability to recognize when a player needs encouragement or when the moment calls for a bold decision.

Ultimately, the World Series is about more than market size, payrolls or television ratings. It is about the players who perform under pressure, the teams that overcome expectations and the fans who fall in love with the drama of the game.

So, while some may be disappointed that the Dodgers and Yankees will not be facing each other, I encourage baseball fans to embrace this different kind of Fall Classic.

The Rays and Brewers have earned their moment, and their journey is a reminder that baseball remains unpredictable, competitive and full of surprises.