The Tampa Bay Rays will kick off the 2025 season Friday afternoon against the Colorado Rockies at Steinbrenner Field, their new home for the 2025 season. The Rays will play at Steinbrenner Field this season due to the damage caused by Hurricane Milton last fall.
The last time the Rays were forced out of their home was in Port Charlotte in 2023. That year, they split spring training between Tropicana Field and the Disney complex in Orlando. How did that season turn out? The Rays started the season 13-0 and went on to win 99 games.
GM Erik Neander discussed the uniqueness of playing at Steinbrenner Field this season: “Going into this year, playing at Steinbrenner, I think the camaraderie and connectedness of the team is always something that is important. This group is equipped to handle everything that we’re going to have to deal with this year to the highest level we could ever expect. This group is connected. There’s a really good vibe to them. The work has been fantastic.”
It will be an interesting season for the Rays as they will have to deal with the heat, humidity, and rain delays that come with playing outside instead of in a climate-controlled 72-degree environment at Tropicana Field. The Rays are expected to return to Tropicana Field for the 2026 season after repairs to the roof are complete. But with Stuart Sternberg calling the shots in Tampa, nothing would come as a surprise.
The Rays announced that they sold out on Opening Day with 10,046 seats sold. That is down from the 25,025 capacity at Tropicana Field. This is the 19th consecutive sellout for the Rays on Opening Day.
Not much is expected for the Rays this season. Baseball Prospectus has the Rays winning 82.3 games, and Fangraphs has them winning 82. Most of the leading sportsbooks in Vegas have Tampa’s over/under win total at 81.5 this season.
The Rays missed the playoffs last season for the first time since the 2019 season, and no one is expecting a postseason run for the Rays this season. The Rays made it through spring training in relatively good shape, the Shane McClanahan injury notwithstanding. McClanahan has nerve irritation in his left arm, so he will start the season on the IL. Ryan Pepiot will be the starter instead of McClanahan on opening day against the Rockies. In the best-case scenario, McClanahan will miss just a few starts, and the hope is that the injury will not be long-term.
The Rays will start the season with a rotation of Pepiot, Taj Bradley, Zack Littell, Shane Baz, and Drew Rasmussen. Pete Fairbanks will once again anchor the bullpen as the Rays closer. Edwin Uteca and Mason Montgomery also return after their successful 2024 season.
Once again, provided they are not hit by the injury bug, the Rays will once again have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, both from a starting and a bullpen standpoint. Offensively, there are a couple of players where the heat will be on early as they try to rebound from a disappointing 2024 season.
Center Fielder Johnny DeLuca, left fielder Christopher Morel and right fielder Josh Lowe are all being counted on to improve their 2024 numbers. The Rays did add some offense to the lineup this off-season by signing catcher Danny Jansen and shortstop Ha-Seong Kim. Jansen will handle the catching duties and provide much-needed offense behind the plate, which was missing last season. Ben Rortvedt will back up Jansen.
Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe, Taylor Walls, and Junior Cameneiro will start for the Rays around the infield. Kim will not be available until late May as he recovers from off-season surgery.
In a battle for the last utility position on the roster, Curtis Mead beat out Eloy Jimenez. Mead finished spring training with a .524 batting average, hoping that hot bat will carry over into the regular season.
Richie Palocios, Kameron Misner, Jonathan Aranda, and Jose Cabellero round out the Rays roster, although Palocios will start the season on the DL as he recuperates from a broken bone in his hand suffered during a fielding drill in spring training. Thus, the addition of Misner to the roster.
Should the offense sputter again this season, Chandler Simpson, Tre’ Morgan, and Carson Williams are waiting at AAA Durham, ready to join the big-league club.
Author’s Prediction
I predict that the Rays will make the playoffs and win 90-95 games this season, despite being in a tough AL East division. Tampa Bay’s pitching is too good, and the hitting will improve from last season. So yes, there will be October baseball at Steinbrenner Field in 2025.