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This World Series Player Has Ties to the Pittsburgh Pirates
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- This World Series Player Has Ties to the Pittsburgh Pirates
The World Series is officially underway, and all the Pittsburgh Pirates can do at this point is watch from home, hoping that it'll be them playing at the end of October in 2027.
Even though the Pirates themselves aren't playing in the Fall Classic, there is one player between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers who has ties to the Pittsburgh organization.
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When the Rays announced their World Series roster earlier Friday, one player was outfielder Ryan Vilade.
This might sound familiar to Pirates fans who follow both the big-league team and the farm system. The 27-year-old never reached MLB with Pittsburgh, but he spent time in the Pirates' Minor League system in 2023.
The Pirates claimed Vilade off waivers from the Colorado Rockies on November 9, 2022. From that point, he spent the rest of the 2023 season at Pittsburgh's Triple-A affiliate and actually put together a really nice season.
In that lone season with the organization, Vilade logged a .270/.370/.382 slash line, but never reached the majors with the organization. Coming off a strong year, Vilade elected free agency and didn't return to the Pirates, seeking an opportunity to get back to the majors elsewhere.
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From that point on, the outfielder jumped to the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Cardinals , and Cincinnati Reds organizations before finding a home with the Tampa Bay Rays following a trade last offseason.
Oct 7, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Ryan Vilade (26) reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the New York Yankees during the fourth inning of game three of the ALDS during the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Vilade has had a respectable season with Tampa Bay in 2026. He appeared in 96 games during the regular season and logged a .750 OPS with 11 home runs and eight doubles.
The 27-year-old wasn't a great overall defender in the outfield, but he gave Tampa Bay some versatility in the field. Vilade appeared at first base, second base, third base, left field, and right field throughout the season.
Every team needs a utilityman who can provide a boost in the batter's box, and Vilade filled that role perfectly.
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Vilade's role has decreased substantially since the postseason started, which is expected. He's only appeared in three games and has one hit in five at-bats. That said, that one hit was a home run
It'll be interesting to see if Vilade gets an opportunity to make an impact on the World Series over the next week. The Rays trust him enough to be on the roster.
Vilade is a perfect example of how a player who doesn't work out with one organization can find a home and make a big impact with another. Perhaps the Pirates can find a player other organizations overlooked and see if they can be a solid depth piece,, as Vilade turned into for the Rays.
