Rays catcher Liam Hicks set for World Series debut against Brewers
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Rays catcher Liam Hicks, a Toronto native and Arkansas State alum, makes his World Series debut Friday.
He is the first Arkansas State alumnus to play in an MLB World Series.
Background
Liam Hicks is the catcher (#34) for the Tampa Bay Rays, a Toronto native and Arkansas State alum. He had no Division I offers out of high school, started at Mineral Area College in Missouri, then transferred to Arkansas State; the Detroit Tigers later traded for him, left him off their 40-man roster, and the Miami Marlins took him in the December 2024 Rule 5 Draft (a draft that lets teams claim players left unprotected). He debuted with Miami in 2025 and is now with the Rays, who reached the World Series by beating the Cleveland Guardians.
How it unfolded
- 2024 -07The Tigers acquired Hicks and pitcher Tyler Owens from the Texas Rangers in the trade that sent catcher Carson Kelly to Texas.
- Dec 11, 2024The Marlins selected Hicks from the Tigers in the Rule 5 Draft.
- 2025Hicks debuted with the Marlins, hitting .247 with six home runs and a .692 OPS in 119 games as a rookie.
- 2026Hicks made his World Baseball Classic debut for Team Canada.
- Oct 19, 2026The Rays moved Hicks up to third in their ALCS Game 6 lineup against the Guardians, the first time in the series he hit higher than fifth.
- Oct 20, 2026Hicks had 2 hits and 2 RBI as the Rays evened the ALCS.
- Oct 21, 2026The Rays clinched a Fall Classic spot with a 7-3 ALCS win over the Cleveland Guardians.
- Oct 22, 2026Rays manager Kevin Cash praised Hicks at World Series Media Day in Milwaukee.
- Oct 23, 2026Game 1 of the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field, 8 p.m. ET — Hicks' World Series debut.
Who’s saying what
- Manager
- Rays manager Kevin Cash praised Hicks at World Series Media Day ahead of the series.
- Former coach
- Former Toronto Mets coach Duncan Watt said it wouldn't surprise him if Hicks has some kind of big moment in the World Series.
- Family
- Hicks' mother Jennifer said he is the last Canadian player still playing this season and that there's no reason fans can't all pull together for a player.
- Analysts
- mlive noted Hicks is making a case to be the best catcher taken in the major-league phase of the Rule 5 Draft since at least 2000.