Osprey Alum Bryan Baker And Tampa Bay Rays Advance To 2026 World Series
10/20/2026 2:00:00 PM | Baseball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — University of North Florida Baseball alumnus Bryan Baker and the Tampa Bay Rays have advanced to the 2026 World Series, beating the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Monday.
Baker entered from Tampa Bay's bullpen in the bottom of the ninth inning and recorded three straight outs to send the Rays to their third World Series in franchise history.
Baker has dealt 7.0 scoreless innings as the Rays' closer this postseason. He's posted six strikeouts and five saves while allowing just one hit across seven appearances.
Baker notched his seventh straight scoreless appearance of the postseason in Game 6 against the Guardians to help lead Tampa Bay to an ALCS series win. In Game 5 of the ALCS, Baker recorded his fifth save of the postseason to help the Rays take a 3-2 series lead.
The former Osprey stands as the only player in MLB history to record four straight postseason saves without allowing a single hit. Baker is just the second relief pitcher in MLB history to record five or more saves while allowing one or fewer hits through his first six relief appearances in the postseason.
In the regular season, Baker posted 62.1 innings pitched with a 1.44 ERA and led the MLB in saves with 41. On July 4, Baker became the first Osprey alumnus to secure a spot on an MLB All-Star team in program history.
Baker was a pitcher at North Florida from 2014 to 2016. He's a 2015 ASUN Regular Season champion and earned 2016 First Team All-ASUN honors. Baker was drafted in the 11th round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies.
Baker will have the chance to help lead the Rays to their first Word Series title in franchise history. Game 1 of the World Series is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m. ET in Milwaukee, Wis.
Baker entered from Tampa Bay's bullpen in the bottom of the ninth inning and recorded three straight outs to send the Rays to their third World Series in franchise history.
Baker has dealt 7.0 scoreless innings as the Rays' closer this postseason. He's posted six strikeouts and five saves while allowing just one hit across seven appearances.
Baker notched his seventh straight scoreless appearance of the postseason in Game 6 against the Guardians to help lead Tampa Bay to an ALCS series win. In Game 5 of the ALCS, Baker recorded his fifth save of the postseason to help the Rays take a 3-2 series lead.
The former Osprey stands as the only player in MLB history to record four straight postseason saves without allowing a single hit. Baker is just the second relief pitcher in MLB history to record five or more saves while allowing one or fewer hits through his first six relief appearances in the postseason.
In the regular season, Baker posted 62.1 innings pitched with a 1.44 ERA and led the MLB in saves with 41. On July 4, Baker became the first Osprey alumnus to secure a spot on an MLB All-Star team in program history.
Baker was a pitcher at North Florida from 2014 to 2016. He's a 2015 ASUN Regular Season champion and earned 2016 First Team All-ASUN honors. Baker was drafted in the 11th round of the 2016 MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies.
Baker will have the chance to help lead the Rays to their first Word Series title in franchise history. Game 1 of the World Series is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m. ET in Milwaukee, Wis.
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