Wednesday, February 12

TAMPA, Fla. -- The wait is nearly over. It’s just about time for Spring Training, the beginning of a long season that the Rays hope will last deep into October.

Here’s everything you need to know before Tampa Bay’s pitchers and catchers report.

When is the first workout for pitchers and catchers?

Wednesday

When is the first full-squad workout?

Feb. 17

Where is the Rays’ facility?

The Rays will spend Spring Training at Charlotte Sports Park, which is located at 2300 El Jobean Road in Port Charlotte, Fla.

Can fans attend workouts?

Yes, fans can attend and watch the morning workouts.

Who are some new faces fans should know?

The Rays’ two biggest additions this offseason were catcher Danny Jansen and shortstop Ha-Seong Kim. This will be Jansen’s first Spring Training outside the Blue Jays' organization. Kim will be a bit behind schedule, as he is finishing his recovery from right shoulder surgery and isn’t expected to be ready for Opening Day.

A more recent addition was right-hander Alex Faedo, a Tampa native and University of Florida product who should slot into Tampa Bay’s bullpen.

Another player to watch is right-hander Joe Boyle, a hard-throwing, MLB-ready starter acquired in the Jeffrey Springs trade. The Rays also added reliever Eric Orze and Rule 5 Draft picks (and fellow former Mets prospects) Mike Vasil and Nate Lavender.

Who are some of the top prospects invited to Major League camp?

The following organization-ranked prospects were either invited to camp or will be there as part of the 40-man roster: shortstop Carson Williams (No. 1), first baseman Xavier Isaac (No. 2), infielder Brayden Taylor (No. 3), outfielder Chandler Simpson (No. 4), first baseman Tre’ Morgan (No. 10), catcher Dominic Keegan (No. 13), starter Yoniel Curet (No. 14), lefty Ian Seymour (No. 17), shortstop Gregory Barrios (No. 20), lefty Joe Rock (No. 22) and outfielder Matthew Etzel (No. 24).

When is the Rays’ first Grapefruit League game?

Perhaps fittingly, the Rays will open their Spring Training schedule at Steinbrenner Field -- their home for the regular season, after Hurricane Milton damaged Tropicana Field’s roof -- against the Yankees at 1:05 p.m. ET on Feb. 21.

What are a few other notable spring games?

The Rays’ first home game of the spring is Saturday, March 22 against the Red Sox. They only have one night game on the schedule, as they’ll face a Twins split squad at 6:05 p.m. on March 14. They have one trip to Florida’s east coast, with a split-squad game against the Nationals on March 16 followed by a game against the Mets on March 17.

What is Spring Breakout and when is the game?

This will be the second year for Spring Breakout, an event in which each club fields a team of its top prospects to play exhibition games against another club’s top prospects. It’s an early taste of the big leagues for many and a chance for fans to get a glimpse of the future, like the one Isaac provided with his thunderous performance last year.

This year, the Rays’ Spring Breakout game is set for March 13 at 7:05 p.m., when they will host a squad of Red Sox prospects at Charlotte Sports Park.

Will the Rays’ games be televised?

The Rays’ regional sports network -- now known as FanDuel Sports Network -- will air 10 spring games on TV: Feb. 24, Feb. 25, March 3, March 7, March 9, March 15 and March 21-23, plus the Spring Breakout game on March 13.

You can also expect to hear 21 broadcasts from the Rays Radio team, with a mix of games airing on WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM (Feb. 22-23, March 1-2, March 8-9, March 14-16 and March 22-23) and webcasts on MLB.com (Feb. 24-25, Feb. 27, March 3-4, March 7, March 13 and the Spring Breakout game, March 19 and March 21).

When is the Rays’ last spring game?

The Rays will finish their spring schedule on the road, playing against the Yankees in Tampa on March 23 then facing the Phillies in Clearwater on March 24.

Will there be any additional exhibitions before the regular season?

Not this year. Between the end of Yankees Spring Training on March 24 and the Rays’ season opener on March 28, team staff will be hard at work converting Steinbrenner Field from New York’s spring ballpark into Tampa Bay’s regular-season home.

What are the details for Opening Day?

The Rays will begin the regular season on March 28, at 4:10 p.m. against the Rockies at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.

FanGraphs’ just-released 2025 playoff odds and projected standings give the Rays a 42.3% chance to make the playoffs (and a 14.4% chance to win the division, with the Yankees favored) with a projected record of 83-79, only a three-game improvement over last year.

Meanwhile, Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA projections give the Rays a 35.2% chance to make the playoffs, putting their expected win total at 82.3 -- fourth in the American League East behind the Orioles, Yankees and Blue Jays.

“Nobody in our organization was more excited to get this in than Stu -- perhaps with me a very, very close second.” -- Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander, after thanking principal owner Stuart Sternberg for his involvement in the Kim signing

Speaking at his State of the City address. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said Tuesday he remains “hopeful” the Rays and their development partner Hines will meet their requirements by March 31 to follow through with the planned $1.3 billion stadium and Historic Gas Plant District.

In December, the Rays called for further negotiations, saying delays by Pinellas County pushed the new ballpark’s opening to 2029 and created a “funding gap” they “are not able to absorb alone.”

Welch also said the city was prepared to adjust if the Rays walk away from the deal, which would result in the Tropicana Field land returning to the city.

“Stay tuned,” Welch said. “We’ll keep working until the final out.”

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