Lance McCullers Jr. had won two World Series titles before his July 2026 trade. He earned both championships with the Houston Astros, in 2017 and 2022.
McCullers was a significant part of Houston’s 2017 postseason run. He helped the Astros reach their first World Series, then started Games 3 and 7 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Houston won the decisive Game 7, giving the franchise its first championship.
In 2022, McCullers returned from injury and pitched during another deep playoff run. He started Game 3 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Astros won the series in six games. That victory made him a two-time champion.
The common mix-up is between team championships and individual awards: McCullers did not win two separate personal trophies. The two titles refer to World Series championships won by his Astros teams while he was on the roster. Houston traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers on July 15, 2026.