Most World Series stories start on a big-league diamond. This one starts on a neighborhood field in Arcadia. Griffin Jax, the Tampa Bay Rays pitcher who started Game 4 of the World Series with his team facing elimination, once wore an Arcadia Little League uniform, according to the league.
That makes him one of Phoenix’s own. Jax was born here in 1994, while his father, Garth Jax, was a linebacker for the Phoenix and Arizona Cardinals. The Rays’ run ended this week when the Milwaukee Brewers won the first World Series title in franchise history in five games. Still, the one game Tampa Bay won belonged in part to an Arcadia alum.
A Cardinals Kid
Garth Jax played for the Cardinals from 1989 to 1995. Longtime fans may remember him for tackling a drunk fan who ran onto the field at Sun Devil Stadium in 1994. After his playing days, he worked in community outreach for the Cardinals and later coached football at Valley Lutheran High School.
Griffin eventually moved to Colorado, where he starred at Cherry Creek High School. Even so, his Arizona ties never faded. In fact, he married his wife, Savannah, in Gilbert in 2021.
The Path Less Traveled
Jax’s road to the majors was unusual. Instead of signing with the Phillies out of high school, he chose the U.S. Air Force Academy. There, he set a school record with a 2.05 ERA as a junior.
The Minnesota Twins drafted him in 2016. However, military service came first. He reported for active duty at Cape Canaveral and pitched only five games in 2017. Today he is a captain in the Air Force Reserve. When he debuted in 2021, he became the first Air Force Academy graduate to play in the majors.
Minnesota traded him to Tampa Bay in 2025. This season, the Rays moved him from the bullpen into the starting rotation. He went 8-10 and won a silver medal with Team USA at the World Baseball Classic.
His Biggest Night
Then came October 27. The Brewers led the series three games to none. Jax took the ball at Tropicana Field and struck out six in four innings. Tampa Bay went on to win 4-3 in 12 innings, its first World Series win at home since 2008.
The next day, Jax said he was willing to pitch again. “If I can move my arm today, I’ll be ready,” he told MLB Network. Ultimately, Milwaukee closed out the series that night.
Why It Matters Here
Every spring, Arcadia’s fields fill with kids chasing the same dream. Few will reach the World Series. Nevertheless, Jax proves the path can start right here, between Camelback Mountain and the canal.
So while the Brewers celebrate, Phoenix can take quiet pride. One of the men who kept the series alive learned the game in Arcadia.
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