The Milwaukee Brewers captured their first World Series title in franchise history, and five USA Baseball alumni were a part of the team’s success. After jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the series against the Tampa Bay Rays, it took just five games for the Brewers to win it all. Kyle Harrison (2019 18U), Garrett Mitchell (2019 CNT), Brice Turang (2014 15U, 2016 & 2017 18U, 2026 WBC), Andrew Vaughn (2013 15U, 2017 & 2018 CNT, 2019 Pro), and Christian Yelich (2017 WBC) all won World Series rings.
Mitchell started all five games in center field and collected hits in three of them. In Game 2, he hit an RBI single in the first inning as part of the Brewers’ five unanswered runs that earned them a comeback victory. Mitchell also drove in one of the Milwaukee's eight runs in the fifth inning of Game 3 win with an RBI single, and delivered a key run-scoring single in the clinching Game 5.
Turang, who started all five games at second base, turned in a combined six hits in the series. In Game 2, he had a hit and scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the seventh inning. He proceeded to turn in a three-hit night in Game 3 that was highlighted by his two-RBI single in the fifth inning. In Game 5 he scored the first run of the game after reaching on a double as part of a 2-for-4 performance. He also made the final defensive play of the World Series, fielding a ground ball and firing to first base.
Vaughn, USA Baseball’s 2018 Golden Spikes Award winner, made two pinch-hit appearances in the series. He became the 12th Golden Spikes Award winner to win a World Series title as a player or coach.
Yelich, the Brewers’ team captain, started all five games as the designated hitter. He was responsible the first two runs scored in Game 1, as he hit an RBI triple and later scored in the first inning. After collecting another hit in Game 2, he turned in a 2-for-3 showing in Game 3. His outing was highlighted by an RBI single in the first inning to get the Brewers on the board. In Game 5, he reached on a hit-by-pitch and scored on William Contreras’ double to extend the Brewers’ lead to 3-0 in the sixth inning.
