Jake Bauers Wins NLCS MVP After Brewers Sweep Dodgers to Reach 2026 World Series

Jake Bauers put together a tremendous performance to help the Milwaukee Brewers sweep the Los Angeles Dodgers to advance to the World Series, and now he's been given one of the most coveted awards in baseball.

The first baseman was named National League Championship Series MVP following the Brewers' 6-4 win on Thursday.

Bauers had a strong Game 3 against the Dodgers, delivering a two-run home run that put Milwaukee on top in the seventh inning.

He was just as good on Thursday, going 1-for-3 with three RBI.

He hit a ground-rule double in the fourth inning to bring the Brewers within two runs, and he drew a bases-loaded walk to tie things up in the fifth inning. Milwaukee took the lead in the sixth and got a shutdown performance from reliever Aaron Ashby to win it.

Despite this being the second time the Brewers have been to the World Series, Bauers is the franchise's first NLCS MVP. When Milwaukee made the World Series in 1982, the NLCS MVP went to a member of the losing team: the Los Angeles Angels' Fred Lynn, who had 11 hits, a home run and five RBI in that series.

To say that winning the NLCS MVP is a special moment for Bauers would be an understatement.

The 31-year-old was drafted in 2013 and made his MLB debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018. From there, he spent time with the Cleveland Guardians, Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees.

He nearly retired after the 2023 season, but after his wife told him that she was pregnant, Bauers decided to keep playing so he could provide health insurance for his family.

That proved to be a good decision, as three years later, Bauers put together a career season with 26 home runs and 86 RBI while batting a career-high .266.

Now, Bauers is the NLCS MVP, but his magical season isn't over yet. The Brewers will face the winner of the ALCS between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians as they seek their first World Series victory in franchise history.