The Tampa Bay Rays will face off against the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2026 World Series. In the midst of competing for their first-ever World Series title, the Rays still found a way to help out a fellow Tampa Bay professional athlete. 

How the Rays helped NFL quarterback Baker Mayfield

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield dislocated his right thumb in a football game against the Minnesota Vikings. The injury kept him sidelined for three weeks during the 2026 National Football League season. 

However, Mayfield is set to return to the field this Sunday as the Buccaneers will play the Carolina Panthers on the road in Charlotte at 1 p.m. ET. 

The Tampa Bay Rays played a part in Mayfield’s return to the gridiron. Mayfield will wear a special “custom glove” on his throwing hand against Carolina. 

During the ALCS, the Rays sent an employee to the Buccaneers facility to meet with Mayfield to make a custom glove. More staffers joined the decision-making on the glove right before the Rays left for Milwaukee for Friday’s World Series game. This is all according to Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman. 

The glove the Rays made for Mayfield is a wide receiver glove commonly seen in football. The thumb part was ripped off, and a supporting piece was inserted into the glove. 

Mayfield discussed the glove’s design further at a press conference on Thursday. 

“If there is impact, there is going to be a pretty solid plate on the back of the glove that will prevent that,” the Tampa Bay quarterback told the media. 

Tampa Bay Rays clubhouse attendant Nick Bond gets credit for making the glove, according to Tampa Bay Times Buccaneers beat reporter Rick Stroud. 

Mayfield is now ready to play in his fourth NFL game this season thanks to the Tampa Bay Rays. In three games this season, he has 615 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and two interceptions. He is in his fourth season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Game one of the 2026 World Series

The 2026 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers begins with game one on Friday, May 23. The game is at American Family Field in Milwaukee, and the first pitch is at 8:08 p.m. ET. 

The game is available on Fox.

For more MLB news: https://worldbaseball.com/news/category/mlb