When the first pitch is thrown in Game 1 of the World Series, it will mark a 2020 milestone — actually making it to the Fall Classic in a coronavirus-affected season. Through fanless games, COVID delays and what's proven to be a thrilling postseason to this point, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays have overcome a lot to be playing for the sport's ultimate prize.
The best-of-seven set begins Tuesday at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers, in the first neutral site World Series.
The Dodgers seek their seventh World Series title, the first since 1988, while the Rays hope to hoist the trophy for the first time in their second Fall Classic appearance.
MaxPreps is breaking down the 28-man rosters for each club, plus managers, and where they played high school baseball. In an increasingly global game, we note where the international players grew up.
Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers' Game 1 starter, prepped at Highland Park in Dallas and played football for the Scots along with Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Facing off against Dodgers' ace is Tyler Glasnow, who was playing high school baseball in 2008 at Hart (Newhall, Calif.) as Kershaw broke into the majors.
Tyler Glasnow played high school baseball for Hart (Calif.) and will be the starter for the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the World Series.
File photo by Larry Gasinski
Manager
PitchersPedro Baez, Dominican Republic
Walker Buehler,
Henry Clay (Lexington, Ky.)Dylan Floro,
Buhach Colony (Atwater, Calif.)Tony Gonsolin,
Vacaville (Calif.)Victor Gonzalez, Mexico
Brusdar Graterol, Venezuela
Kenley Jansen, Curacao
Joe Kelly,
Corona (Calif.)Clayton Kershaw,
Highland Park (Dallas)Adam Kolarek,
Catonsville (Baltimore)Dustin May,
Northwest (Justin, Texas)Jake McGee,
Reed (Sparks, Nev.)Blake Treinen,
Osage City (Osage City, Kan.)Julio Urias, Mexico
Alex Wood,
Ardrey Kell (Charlotte, N.C.)Position playersAustin Barnes,
Poly (Riverside, Calif.)Matt Beaty,
Dresden (Tenn.)Cody Bellinger,
Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)Mookie Betts,
Overton (Nashville, Tenn.)Kike Hernandez, Puerto Rico
Max Muncy,
Keller (Texas)Joc Pederson,
Palo Alto (Calif.)AJ Pollock,
RHAM (Hebron, Conn.)Edwin Rios, Puerto Rico
Corey Seager,
Northwest Cabarrus (Concord, N.C.)Will Smith,
Kentucky Country Day (Louisville, Ky.)Chris Taylor,
Cox (Virginia Beach, Va.)Justin Turner,
Mayfair (Lakewood, Calif.)
Tampa Bay Rays
Manager
PitchersNick Anderson,
Brainerd (Minn.)Diego Castillo, Domincan Republic
John Curtiss,
Carroll (Southlake, Texas)Pete Fairbanks,
Webster Groves (Mo.)Josh Fleming,
Columbia Independent (Columbia, Mo.)Tyler Glasnow,
Hart (Newhall, Calif.)Aaron Loup,
Hahnville (Boutte, La.)Shane McClanahan,
Cape Coral (Fla.)Charlie Morton,
Joel Barlow (Redding, Conn.)Ryan Sherriff,
Culver City (Calif.)Blake Snell,
Shorewood (Shoreline, Wash.)Ryan Thompson,
Cascade (Turner, Ore.)Ryan Yarbrough,
All Saints' Academy (Winter Haven, Fla.)
Position playersWilly Adames, Dominican Republic
Randy Arozarena, Cuba
Mike Brosseau,
Andrean (Merrillville, Ind.)Ji-Man Choi, South Korea
Yandy Diaz, Cuba
Kevin Kiermaier,
Fort Wayne Bishop Luers (Fort Wayne, Ind.)Brandon Lowe,
Nansemond River (Suffolk, Va.)Manuel Margot, Dominican Republic
Austin Meadows,
Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)Michael Perez, Puerto Rico
Brett Phillips,
Seminole (Seminole, Fla.)Hunter Renfroe,
Copiah Academy (Gallman, Miss.)Yoshi Tsutsugo, Japan
Joey Wendle,
Avon Grove (West Grove, Pa.)Mike Zunino,
Mariner (Cape Coral, Fla.)
