Former Beavers Excelled During MLB Playoff Push

Six former Oregon State baseball players have moved into postseason contention across the league.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Baseball

Former Beavers Excelled During MLB Playoff Push

Live Poll

Do you plan to watch the postseason games involving your local team?

Six former Oregon State University baseball players are competing in the 2026 MLB playoffs. This group includes key contributors like Steven Kwan and Matt Boyd who helped their respective teams secure postseason berths.

Why it matters

The success of these alumni highlights the ongoing pipeline of talent from the Oregon State program to professional baseball. Their performance remains a critical component for teams navigating the high-stakes environment of October baseball.

Steven Kwan has maintained a .346 batting average since the All-Star break, while Matt Boyd recorded a 1.67 ERA over 31 innings during July. Additionally, Drew Rasmussen struck out seven batters while allowing only one run in his most recent appearance.

The players

Matt Boyd

He is a professional pitcher who demonstrated significant effectiveness during the July stretch of the season.

Steven Kwan

He is a professional outfielder who has been a consistent offensive threat since the All-Star break.

Drew Rasmussen

He is a professional pitcher who recently demonstrated strong command in his performance against the New York Yankees.

Cleveland Guardians

This professional baseball organization recently secured the American League Central division title.

Tampa Bay Rays

This professional baseball team successfully clinched the American League East division title.

The details

Former Oregon State players have become instrumental figures in the league as the Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays clinched their respective division titles. Other participants, including those involved in the best-of-three AL Wild Card series, continue to fight for a spot in the next round of the playoffs.

Timeline

  1. September 24, 2026: Matt Boyd pitched against Miami.

  2. September 29, 2026: Matt Boyd starts against San Diego.

  3. October 3, 2026: Cleveland Guardians play their first postseason game.

Season Trajectory

The involvement of these alumni directly influences the depth and reliability of their current rosters as teams prepare for the AL Division Series. Their contributions will dictate the competitive balance of upcoming best-of-three series and the road to the league championship.

Drew Rasmussen is expected to take the mound for game one of the upcoming AL Division Series. Fans should watch these specific former Beavers as the best-of-three wild card format significantly narrows the margin for error for every roster involved.

The takeaway

The success of these former players demonstrates the value of established collegiate pipelines in shaping professional rosters. Readers following the playoffs should monitor player usage patterns as teams lean on experienced arms and bats in critical postseason moments.

Further reading

For more updates on collegiate athletes competing at the professional level, check out our Baseball coverage.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.

Live Poll

Do you plan to watch the postseason games involving your local team?