How Yankees are experiencing 'odd' life as the visitor at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. – “Quite odd, honestly,’’ was how Yankees manager Aaron Boone felt Thursday, as his team arrived at its own facility as visitors.

Now that Steinbrenner Field is the Tampa Bay Rays’ temporary home ballpark, due to Hurricane Milton, the Yankees got their first dose of what it’s like on the other side.

Making themselves at home right away, the Yankees opened with three straight singles off Rays’ starter Taj Bradley, taking a 1-0 lead on Aaron Judge’s line single to center.

“I don’t know if surreal is the right word, but it’s definitely a little odd,’’ said Boone, speaking from the visitors’ dugout before a four-game series opener at GMS Field.

Rays’ skipper Kevin Cash, is the spring-summer tenant in Boone’s spring training office, and Boone left a note and a bottle of tequila for Cash.

“Just kind of my housewarming gift to, hey, take care of the place you know? Enjoy it, make yourself at home.’’

As at Tropicana Field, which had its roof torn away by Milton last October, plenty of Yankees fans had arrived for Thursday’s game.

Yankees owner and Tampa resident Hal Steinbrenner watched batting practice from the visiting dugout, and he presumably parked in his normal premier space in the lot.

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“We are grateful and thankful to them, which is a funny thing to say, for allowing us to use the facility,’’ said Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen. “But as far as the regular season goes, this is our home, not theirs.’’

Finally playing their home games in the great outdoors, away from the dingy dome, Rasmussen was particularly grateful for the “café vibe’’ of the partially-outdoor players dining area.

“Just on the home side, the amount of sunlight is a nice little change of pace,’’ said Rasmussen. “It’s a little bit different than the Trop, when you’re sort of closed in on all four sides.’’

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees living life as visitor at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa

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How Yankees are experiencing ‘odd’ life as the visitor at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa

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