The cost to convert George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, into a major league-ready facility will exceed **$50 million**, according to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. The Tampa Bay Rays will play their entire 2025 regular season at the complex, which serves as the New York Yankees’ spring training and practice facility, after Hurricane Milton severely damaged Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg on October 9. The storm caused approximately **$56 million in repairs**, which are expected to take at least the entire 2025 season to complete.
The $50 million price tag for upgrades at Steinbrenner Field does not include the undisclosed millions the Yankees have already invested in renovating their spring training facilities. Once the Yankees conclude their spring training schedule, they will hand over the facility to the Rays, who will benefit from the ongoing improvements, including expanded weight rooms, training areas, dining spaces, and player amenities.
The hurricane has left the Rays’ future home uncertain. Plans for a new stadium in St. Petersburg’s historic Gas Plant District are now in question, and there is no guarantee that Tropicana Field will be ready for the 2026 season. In the meantime, Manfred praised Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner for his generosity in accommodating the Rays, their American League East rivals.
“The industry owes Hal Steinbrenner a real debt of gratitude,” Manfred said. “He put tens of millions of dollars into improving Steinbrenner Field, and the first people to use it for an extended period will be the Rays. That kind of support and collegiality is incredibly important.”
The Yankees will make two trips to Tampa during the 2025 season to face the Rays at the 11,000-seat ballpark, using the upgraded visitors’ clubhouse for their April 17-20 and August 19-20 series.
Meanwhile, the Oakland Athletics will also play in a minor league ballpark this season as they await the construction of their new stadium on the Las Vegas Strip, expected to open in 2028. The A’s will temporarily call Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California, their home after leaving Oakland. Manfred noted that the costs for major league-level renovations in Sacramento are still being calculated.
—
In other news, Texas Rangers first baseman **Jake Burger** delivered an emotional performance just days after his 4-month-old daughter, Penelope, underwent open-heart surgery. Burger hit a **408-foot home run** during an 8-0 spring training win over the Seattle Mariners, marking his first homer of the spring.
Penelope, born on October 25 with Down syndrome, successfully underwent surgery on Monday. Burger, who had been at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, rejoined the Rangers on Thursday morning and hit the home run while still wearing Penelope’s hospital bracelet on his wrist.
“It’s incredible what his young daughter, Penelope, went through,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “I can’t imagine what Jake and his family endured over the past few days.”
Burger, who joined the Rangers in the offseason, will wear No. 21 this season to raise awareness for Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21. Reflecting on the medical team that cared for his daughter, Burger said, “We’re really lucky to have such a great team there. What they do every single day is pretty incredible.”
Burger joked about his quick turnaround, saying, “Maybe landing at 7:40 a.m. and driving straight to the field is the secret sauce for hitting home runs. If we need a homer, maybe I’ll try that again!”
Both stories highlight resilience and teamwork, whether it’s the Rays finding a temporary home or Burger channeling his personal challenges into an inspiring performance on the field.
Leave a Reply