TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays played at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Friday night for the first time since last season, when it was their temporary home for all of 2025 due to the roof damage at Tropicana Field after the hurricanes in the fall of 2024.

What You Need To Know

The Tampa Bay Rays faced the New York Yankees in a Spring Training game on Friday night

It was the first time the Rays played at George M. Steinbrenner Field since last season

The Rays played all 2025 home games at Steinbrenner, while Tropicana Field was undergoing repairs from hurricane damage

The Yankees got the win, 3-0

“It’s cool to be back, I hadn’t played at the Trop yet as a Ray, I haven’t played at the Trop at all, so it was good to be back. I only had good memories here, I really enjoyed my time here last summer, even though it was really hot — that was the hardest part — but once you get past that and accept it, I mean, it’s a cool place to play. They pack it in here,” Rays pitcher Joe Boyle said.

SPRING TRAINING ⚾️

The Rays are back at their old *temporary stomping grounds, at George Steinbrenner Field for the first time since playing all of last season here while the Trop was out of commission.

Rays at Yankees tonight in Grapefruit League play. @BN9 @SpecSports360 pic.twitter.com/pOgXrgTDEV

— Michael Epps (@MichaelEppsTV) March 6, 2026

“I’ve tried to put a lot of the memories from last year behind me, so I was excited to come here and watch some of our young players play. We got a fun roster, got some guys starting, some guys coming in for the second half that I’m excited our staff is excited to see play,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

Cash spoke before Friday’s Spring Training game against the Yankees about being back in Steinbrenner Field and said it made him appreciate the Trop that much more.

SPRING TRAINING ⚾️

Rays manager Kevin Cash and Yankees manager Aaron Boone talking before the game tonight, all smiles from both of them on a beautiful night in Tampa. #RaysUp

First pitch for this Grapefruit League ballgame is at 6:35pm at Steinbrenner. @BN9 @SpecSports360 pic.twitter.com/Wh8wBRbF20

— Michael Epps (@MichaelEppsTV) March 6, 2026

“Seventy-two degrees and a roof certainly helps, but the rain from what I witnessed last year from my vantage point, I know everybody has their own opinion, the heat is what really got you limited pregame work. Those noon, 1 p.m. games over the summer was challenging, but we also had some nice nights here when it cooled off just enough to have a perfect setting, but certainly excited to get back to where we’ve called home for many many years,” Cash said.

The Yankees got the win, 3-0 and held the Rays scoreless with just three hits on the night.

Cash said he feels like they’re in the dog days of spring training a little bit, and said they need to “dial it up and fine tune a little bit more” so they feel like there’s still a lot to work on with Opening Day less than three weeks away.