Jake Woodford Already Won Championship Before World Series Starts

Relief pitcher Jake Woodford has already secured a championship title before the World Series even began this year. He spent time pitching for both the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays during the regular season, meaning he stands as a winner regardless of who takes home the trophy on Sunday night. This report contains affiliate links to legal sports betting partners, so FOX News might receive compensation if you sign up or place a wager. Please note that this content was produced by an independent team separate from the main newsroom.

The Rays moved Woodford to Milwaukee right before spring training started back in March. He joined the Brewers bullpen for opening day and appeared in 16 games total. His numbers included a 1-0 record alongside a 6.94 ERA, plus he recorded one save over 23 1/3 innings of work. You can find more Outkick sports coverage by clicking through to our other pages right now.

Things changed quickly on June 5 when the Brewers designated Woodford for assignment, and he was let go just a few days later. By July 4, he had signed a contract with the Chicago Cubs. His time in Chicago was brief, as he pitched one game allowing three runs over two innings before being designated for assignment again on July 11. He was released on July 16 but the club signed him to a minor league deal just two days later on July 18. On July 29, they called up his contract and sent him back to the major league roster immediately.

Woodford threw one scoreless inning against the opposition on August 3 before facing another design for assignment call on August 4. He was released again by the Cubs on August 10 after that short stint. The Rays then brought him home, signing him to a minor league contract on August 11. After spending more than a month down in the minors, they selected his contract and added him to their big league roster on September 24. He faced the New York Yankees and surrendered three earned runs in just 1 1/3 innings before being designated for assignment once more on September 25. Another release followed quickly on September 29 after that final short spell.

This roller-coaster journey took Woodford through three different teams over the course of the 2026 season. One of those clubs is guaranteed to win the World Series though, simply because he played for them this year. It is worth noting that Woodford does not guarantee a ring in his pocket yet. There is no official rule forcing any team to give out rings to every single player who dressed for a game. Ring distribution rests entirely with ownership and management at each franchise. The World Series kicks off Friday night at 8 p.m. ET with the Brewers hosting the Rays for Game One.