Rays reinstate Garrett Cleavinger for third World Series run, swap him for Brody Hopkins

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Tampa Bay will enter its third World Series appearance of the franchise era with a roster that is nearly identical to the one used to reach the championship stage, after the Rays announced a single change on Friday morning hours before Game 1 at American Family Field. The club reinstated left-handed reliever Garrett Cleavinger, replacing hard-throwing prospect Brody Hopkins on the franchise’s World Series roster.

According to the Rays’ roster move, Cleavinger had finished the regular season on the injured list. He was also included on Tampa Bay’s American League Division Series roster, but did not pitch against the Yankees. For the AL Championship Series, the Rays removed Cleavinger from that roster and added Hopkins instead, with the change tied to bullpen usage during that round against the Guardians, where Hopkins did not pitch.

The Rays ultimately elected to return to the more experienced left-handed reliever for the World Series, opting for Cleavinger over Hopkins as the only alteration to the club’s 26-man construction. The announcement came without additional surprises beyond the one-for-one swap, with the team carrying 14 position players and 12 pitchers for Game 1.

The Rays’ pitching group is built around three starters identified as “sure-thing” options for the postseason rotation: Nick Martinez, Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta. Beyond that core, the club stated that everyone else will be available out of the bullpen in Game 1, emphasizing a ready mix of relief arms in support of the starting pitchers.

Below is the Rays’ complete World Series roster as announced by the team on Friday morning. The pitchers are Drew Rasmussen, Freddy Peralta, Nick Martinez, Griffin Jax, Ian Seymour, Bryan Baker, Tyler Wells, Kevin Kelly, Cam Booser, Cole Sulser, Steven Matz and Garrett Cleavinger.

On the position player side, Tampa Bay has two catchers listed: Liam Hicks and Nick Fortes. The infield group consists of six players: Jonathan Aranda, Richie Palacios, Taylor Walls, Junior Caminero, Ben Williamson and Jorge Mateo.

The Rays will also feature five outfielders in their World Series mix: Chandler Simpson, Cedric Mullins, Victor Mesa Jr., Jonny DeLuca and Ryan Vilade. Tampa Bay’s lineup additionally includes one designated hitter, Yandy Díaz, rounding out the club’s announced 26-man roster for the opening game against the World Series opponent at American Family Field.

With the roster locked in aside from Cleavinger’s return, the Rays will be set to begin their World Series run with the same broad bullpen and position-player structures that carried them through the AL Championship Series, culminating in a six-game series win over the Guardians. The one change underscores Tampa Bay’s emphasis on immediate bullpen availability and postseason matchups as it turns the page to Game 1.

In practical terms for Game 1 preparation, the Rays’ decision means Cleavinger will be available in the World Series bullpen after not appearing against the Yankees in the ALDS and after being removed from the ALCS roster in favour of Hopkins. It also confirms Hopkins’ omission is the only roster-level adjustment made by Tampa Bay once it completed the AL Championship Series and advanced to the World Series stage.