Major League Baseball has announced some changes to its 2025 schedule as a result of the Tampa Bay Rays playing their home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa next season due to damage to Tropicana Field during Hurricane Milton.
“These proactive schedule adjustments were made to optimize the number of games played in the best weather conditions in light of the Rays’ move to the outfield,” MLB said in a statement.
To avoid summer humidity that can reach 90% or higher in July and August, MLB moved April’s three-game series (April 7-9) between the Rays and Los Angeles Angels from Anaheim’s Angel Stadium to Steinbrenner Field. The three-game set that the two clubs were supposed to play in Tampa in August (August 4-6) will be played in Anaheim instead.
The two series involving the Rays and Minnesota Twins will also swap places on the schedule. The three-game set originally scheduled for May 26-28 in Minneapolis will be moved to Tampa, and the series scheduled for July 4-6 at Steinbrenner Field will be played at Target Field instead.
As a result of the changes, the Rays will play 64 of their last 108 games on the road, according to the Associated Press. The team has only eight home games to play in July and August.
The 11,000-seat Steinbrenner Field is the spring training home ground for the New York Yankees and their Class A affiliate, the Tampa Tarpons. The Tarpons will play their home games at other fields at the Yankees complex during the Florida State League season.
Tropicana Field suffered damage to its fabric roof panels when they were ripped off when Hurricane Milton made landfall, allowing rain and wind to damage the stadium’s interior as well. After evaluating the damage, the city of St. Petersburg, Florida, has determined that the facility will cost approximately $55.7 million to repair and will not be completed until 2026.
The St. Petersburg City Council initially voted to approve the funds, only to reverse the decision hours later.