Former Arkansas State player Liam Hicks heads to World Series with Rays
Former collegiate catcher Liam Hicks earned a spot in the 2026 World Series with Tampa Bay in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He advanced following a 7-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in game six of the ALCS. The roster carries several notable state ties.
Hicks is a Toronto native. He played two years of his college career with the Arkansas State University Red Wolves. The Texas Rangers drafted him in the ninth round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
He played in the minor leagues for the Rangers and the Detroit Tigers. He made his MLB debut with the Miami Marlins in 2025. Miami traded him to Tampa Bay in 2026.
ASU lists Hicks as “one of the best hitters in the Sun Belt Conference consistently” during the 2021 season. The school noted he made the 2021 Buster Posey Award Watch List.
Ben Williamson also plays for Tampa Bay and shares a Jonesboro area state connection. Williamson previously played for the Arkansas Travelers during their 2024 season. The Travelers won the Texas League Championship that year.
Major League Baseball teams compete in league championship series to secure spots in the final round. Winners of each league then meet to compete for the national title.
Game 1 of the series between Tampa Bay and the Milwaukee Brewers is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. Fans in Jonesboro continue to monitor the roster.
