October is almost here, which means it’s time for the Major League Baseball playoffs. Long Beach will once again have representation in this year’s postseason, with two players and two staff members competing for a trip to the World Series.
In the National League, the Milwaukee Brewers claimed the top seed with an overall record of 103-59–the best mark in baseball. Long Beach’s Trevor Megill is the closer for the Brew Crew, putting together another terrific season at the back end of the bullpen.
Megill, 32, appeared in 63 games this season, posting a strong 2.63 ERA, striking out 69 batters in 61.2 innings pitched. His 30 saves are tied for 10th-most in MLB this year, and match his total from 2025. Megill’s 0.89 WHIP is far and away the best mark of his career.
Over in the American League, Long Beach State product Jarren Duran, 30, is holding down left field for the No. 5 seed Boston Red Sox.
The former Dirtbag didn’t have his best season offensively, but still put together a 20-homer, 20-steal campaign for the second time in his career. According to statmuse, Duran is one of just 17 MLB players to reach both of those milestones this season.
Duran and his Red Sox will face their archrival New York Yankees in the AL Wild Card series, which will be played Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (if necessary) this week. The winner will advance to play the other AL East team in the postseason, the Tampa Bay Rays, in the ALDS.
The Brewers will host Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday, facing either the San Diego Padres or the Chicago Cubs.
Also in the postseason is former Long Beach State pitcher Cesar Ramos, who is the bullpen coach for the Philadelphia Phillies. LBSU grad and former Dirtbags equipment manager, Yosuke Nakajima, remains an assistant athletic trainer with the Los Angeles Dodgers, currently in his 24th season with the club.
