4 former (or current) SF Giants players who could get World Series rings in 2026

The 2026 World Series matchup is set, and with it comes an opportunity to analyze one of Major League Baseball's best quirks: obscure World Series ring recipients. Series-winning teams typically give rings to every player who appeared for them, no matter how small their contribution (Giants fans will recall that Dan Uggla received a ring after going 0-for-11 in four games for the 2014 team).

More than 100 players appeared in the big leagues for one of this year's pennant winners. With a champion less than two weeks from being crowned, let's take a look at the select few of them who made stops in San Francisco before – or, in one case, after – playing for the 2026 Brewers or Rays and earning a chance at some hardware.

First, we should give an honorable mention to Milwaukee catcher Gary Sanchez, who was in the Giants' organization for a month in 2023 but never appeared for the big league team. The guys who truly count for this list, though, all spent significant time in San Francisco.

4 former or current SF Giants who are eligible for a World Series ring

Kyle Harrison

The biggest name on this list, and the only one to appear on a playoff roster thus far, Harrison was a contributor to the first 100-win season in Brewers history. After failing to live up to his top-prospect billing with the Giants and being shipped out in the Rafael Devers trade, Milwaukee acquired him from Boston in February and appeared to have helped him reach his full potential early in the season.

The lefty posted a 1.57 ERA in his first eleven starts and continued to pitch well through late August despite spending time on the injured list. Things completely fell apart for Harrison down the stretch, though, and he was eventually moved to the bullpen. He was on the Brewers' roster through their first two series but has yet to appear in a postseason game. His stuff remains tantalizing, and if the right situation arises, he may yet get a chance to pitch on the sport's biggest stage.

Austin Slater

Since his time as the longest-tenured Giant ended with a 2024 trade to the Reds, Slater has been on a dizzying tour of MLB that included stops with eight organizations – seven of whom gave him major league playing time – in less than two-and-a-half years. His most recent appearances came with Tampa Bay, for whom he posted a respectable .724 OPS in seven June games.

The former fan favorite has since been cut and re-signed to minor league deals by the Rays twice, including, most recently, on September 1st, a transaction that preserved his eligibility to play for them in the postseason. The lefty-masher appears to be merely a depth option, though, as he was not on their roster for the ALDS or ALCS and likely will not appear in the World Series unless another outfielder gets hurt.

Luis Matos

Another former top prospect who didn't pan out, Matos was traded to the Brewers in April and had a few good moments with them – most notably helping out Harrison with a clutch outfield assist – but ultimately hit .200 with no extra-base hits in nine big league games. He was designated for assignment, remained in the organization, and has languished in the minors since.

Joel Kuhnel

He's technically not a former Giant yet, but the club's impending 40-man roster crunch means Kuhnel is about as likely as your grandmother to be rostered by them come November. But before San Francisco claimed him in September, the righty made a pit stop in Milwaukee, where he managed to accrue saves in two of his ten appearances despite a 6.52 ERA.

Kuhnel also began the year with the Athletics, for whom he saved four games, so his two September saves with San Francisco made him the first player in MLB history to get multiple saves for three different teams in the same season. And to think he could get a World Series ring to boot!

These players' contributions to the 2026 pennant winners varied widely, and a couple of them may still have some contributions left to make. But whether or not they can impact the remaining games, all will be rooting for the outcome that nets them the most prized piece of jewelry in the sport, and at least one is guaranteed to get it. In a year where the Giants didn't sniff the postseason, that should be something fans can smile about.

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