Nine former Delmarva Shorebirds are set to appear in the 2026 Major League Baseball playoffs, which begin Tuesday, September 29. The group includes Manny Machado, Josh Hader, Christian Walker, Mike Yastrzemski, Cedric Mullins, Tanner Scott, Garrett Cleavinger, DL Hall and Adley Rutschman.
These former Shorebirds play for seven playoff teams: the San Diego Padres, Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers and Boston Red Sox. Each of these players previously played for Delmarva in Salisbury, Maryland.
Manny Machado Leads Former Shorebirds Group
Manny Machado returns to the postseason with the San Diego Padres after playing for the Delmarva Shorebirds in 2011. Machado hit .276 with six home runs, earned South Atlantic League Player of the Week honors, and appeared in the Mid-Season All-Star Game.
The seven-time All-Star and one-time Platinum Glove winner has helped the Padres reach the playoffs in five of his eight seasons in San Diego.
Houston Astros Feature Josh Hader and Christian Walker
Josh Hader and Christian Walker enter the postseason with the Houston Astros. Hader played for Delmarva in 2013 and posted a 2.65 ERA with 79 strikeouts in just over 70 innings.
Hader is a seven-time postseason participant and serves as the Houston Astros closer. Walker also played for the Shorebirds in 2013, posting a .353/.420/.474 slash line across 31 games. He is a three-time Gold Glove winner at first base and is making his third postseason appearance with Houston.
Mike Yastrzemski and Cedric Mullins Continue Delmarva Pipeline
Mike Yastrzemski is set to make his second Major League Baseball postseason appearance with the Atlanta Braves. He played 63 games for the Shorebirds in 2014 and posted a .306/.365/.554 slash line with 10 home runs, 44 RBIs and 12 stolen bases, earning South Atlantic League Mid-Season All-Star honors.
Cedric Mullins is making his third postseason appearance with the Tampa Bay Rays. Mullins played 124 games for Delmarva in 2016, recording 141 hits, 14 home runs and 30 stolen bases. Tampa Bay earned a first-round bye before beginning in the American League Division Series.
Three Former Shorebirds Pitchers Reach Postseason
Tanner Scott, Garrett Cleavinger and DL Hall represent former Shorebirds pitchers in the postseason. Scott played for Delmarva in 2015, posting a 3.86 ERA in 10 relief appearances while holding opponents to a .196 batting average. He is making his third postseason appearance with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cleavinger played for the Shorebirds in 2016 and recorded a 5-0 record, four saves, a 1.38 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP in 17 relief appearances and 39.0 innings. The left-handed reliever is with the Tampa Bay Rays and is making his second postseason appearance.
Hall posted a 2.10 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP and 100 strikeouts in 22 games, including 20 starts, over 94.1 innings for Delmarva in 2018. He is with the Milwaukee Brewers, who won 103 games and earned the No. 1 seed in the National League. Hall is making his second postseason appearance.
Adley Rutschman Begins Boston Red Sox Postseason Run
Adley Rutschman is set to make his first postseason appearance with the Boston Red Sox and his third postseason appearance overall. The three-time All-Star catcher played for the Shorebirds in 2019 after winning the Golden Spikes Award and becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft.
The Boston Red Sox are scheduled to face the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card round.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Nine former Delmarva Shorebirds are set to appear in the 2026 Major League Baseball playoffs, giving fans several connections to follow across seven teams. The group includes Machado with the Padres, Rutschman with the Red Sox, Hader and Walker with the Astros, and Mullins and Cleavinger with the Rays.
The postseason group also includes Yastrzemski with the Braves, Scott with the Dodgers and Hall with the Brewers. Their appearances reflect the number of former Delmarva players scheduled to take part in the 2026 playoffs.
Source: Original report
