TAMPA — Of their first journey to Steinbrenner Area of 2025, the Rays had been nonetheless the company.
Earlier than, throughout and after their 4-0, spring-opening loss, they noticed indicators of their pending common season takeover, such because the growth of the visiting clubhouse to satisfy Main League Baseball’s requirements.
The Rays will return as guests for the Yankees’ ultimate residence exhibition recreation on March 23, then get the complete Steinbrenner Area expertise as they transfer in for the following six-plus months. Group workers could have about 72 hours to carry out an enormous makeover of stadium branding and signage earlier than their March 28 opener vs. Colorado.
Following in depth injury to Tropicana Area from Hurricane Milton, the Rays have recognized since mid-November they’d play residence video games on the Yankees’ spring residence.
Being there Friday made it extra actual.
“It’s thrilling to recover from right here and simply stroll the grounds,” mentioned Rays catcher Ben Rortvedt.
It additionally nonetheless appeared bizarre.
“Slightly bit,” Rays outfielder Josh Lowe mentioned. “Simply strolling in from the automobile, I used to be simply type of taking a look at all the things from the surface, driving by on the highway, considering we’re going to spend our entire season right here for residence video games.
“It’s going to be a novel expertise.”
But additionally, Lowe mentioned, a superb one.
“We’re going to take advantage of out of it,” he mentioned. “It’s baseball. We’re going to maintain enterprise on the sector it doesn’t matter what subject we’re on. So, that is only a completely different residence for us this yr.”
Realizing the participant/workers area and amenities are among the many finest in baseball for spring and regular-season stadiums ought to make the transition simpler, supervisor Kevin Money mentioned. The Yankees made in depth renovations to the stadium the previous two offseasons.
“I might say [it’s] extra thrilling. The weirdness, I really feel like I’ve gotten over it,” Money mentioned. “However excited that I do know that this facility goes to be actually, very nice. Very appreciative of the lodging. And to have the ability to hold it right here native and have our followers.”
Yankees managing normal companion Hal Steinbrenner, who lives in Tampa, has mentioned that accommodating the Rays (who reportedly are paying $10 million to make use of the stadium and one other $5 million for crucial upgrades) was the appropriate factor to do for the neighborhood.
He famous Friday how the groups have labored collectively on the transition course of.
“There’s been a number of Rays individuals right here for weeks,” Steinbrenner mentioned. “It’s going to be an journey. Little question about it. However they’ve been very grateful, their persons are very competent, and I believe it’s going to be as clean of a transition as potential.
“They’re not going to have a lot time as soon as we go away to do sure issues they should do, however they’re going to get it performed.”
Although it helps a rival, Yankees captain and offseason Tampa resident Aaron Choose mentioned gamers perceive why sharing is sensible. Even with the Yankees being relegated to the visiting clubhouse for sequence in April and August.
“We’re competing, and so they’re in our division and we wish to win our division,” Choose mentioned. “However when there’s pure disasters like that and folks get affected, organizations get affected, households get affected like that, I believe that’s human nature to wish to assist individuals. And I believe that every one that type of comes first earlier than the aggressive aspect.
“It’s like, we’re going that can assist you out however nonetheless wish to kick your butt once we face you.”
Over the course of a six-month season, Rays officers know there shall be some points, significantly with the summer time warmth and rain.
However they’re banking on the general high quality of the power — akin to the brand new weight room; state-of-the-art coaching, therapy and restoration space; expanded participant eating and lounge area — to offset any potential inconveniences.
“I noticed among the movies. It seems excellent. It seems A-1, prime notch, tremendous massive league,” mentioned Rortvedt, a former Yankee who hoped his ex-mates would let him take a postgame peek. “It’s a spring coaching complicated, clearly, however the clubhouse is as much as par with a number of big-league stadiums. So, it’s thrilling.”
Choose mentioned the Rays ought to get pleasure from their short-term keep.
“This can be a stunning facility, and I believe all people on this room is certainly having fun with it, so I believe they’ll positively get a kick out of it,” he mentioned. “However hopefully it’s only for one yr, and so they’ll get their place rebuilt.”
