The key facts

  • The Milwaukee Brewers won the franchise's first-ever World Series title, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 4–1 in the series
  • William Contreras was named series MVP — the third Venezuelan to receive the award
  • The Rays lost their third finals in franchise history (2008, 2020, 2026)

The Brewers' first title in 44 years

On October 29, 2025 (per AFP publication time), the Milwaukee Brewers won the first World Series title in franchise history, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4–1 in the fifth game of the best-of-seven series, which ended 4–1 in games. The decisive game was played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. According to AFP, Milwaukee's previous and only prior World Series appearance came in 1982, when the team lost to St. Louis in seven games — meaning 44 years passed between the two finals.

How the fifth game was decided

A key role was played by 22-year-old rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt, who had debuted in the majors only in June: he opened the scoring with a single in the second inning, drove in a run with a single in the fifth, and added another run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, when Milwaukee extended its lead to 4–0. By that point, Pratt had reached base safely on six consecutive at-bats. William Contreras, who brought his runs batted in for the series to four, was named World Series MVP — per AFP, only the third Venezuelan to earn the honor. Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, the regular-season strikeout leader (252), recorded only two that night, but pitched 5⅔ scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, and left the game, apparently due to leg cramps. The Rays managed only one run — on a double by Chandler Simpson in the ninth inning.

What doomed the Rays

A second AFP report adds context to Tampa Bay's failure: the team posted the American League's best regular-season record (98 wins), swept the New York Yankees, and got past Cleveland, but in the finals lost three straight games and survived only in extra innings of Game 4. In the decisive game, pitcher Drew Rasmussen took the mound on just three days' rest and allowed only one run over four innings, but a tiring bullpen could not contain the opponent. Manager Kevin Cash explained the weak offense simply: 'Milwaukee Brewers pitching, that's it.' Over five games, the Rays scored only 12 runs, going 8-for-39 with runners in scoring position. Cash called the team 'a special group' and expressed hope that the players want to taste a championship 'in the coming seasons'. For the Rays, this is their third World Series defeat, after 2008 and 2020.