The Detroit Tigers made the decision to cancel their first home spring training game since 2016 on Monday due to ongoing rain that was anticipated to persist throughout the day.
The game against the Toronto Blue Jays was scheduled to take place in Lakeland, Florida, but it was called off several hours prior to the planned kickoff at 1:05 p.m. EST.
Rainy conditions also affected a game between the Houston Astros and the Miami Marlins in West Palm Beach, resulting in its cancellation as well.
Additionally, other teams participating in the Grapefruit League faced similar weather problems across various Florida locations, including Fort Myers and Sarasota. In an effort to salvage the day’s games, some teams adjusted their start times, hoping to push the matches to later in the afternoon.
Games that were rescheduled to begin at 4:05 p.m. EST included a matchup between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers, as well as the Atlanta Braves hosting the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota. These adjustments were communicated to the public on Sunday.
For the Tampa Bay Rays, the weather disturbances serve as a precursor to potential challenges they may face during the regular season when playing their home games outdoors this year.
Due to hurricane damage, notably Hurricane Milton, which destroyed the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg in October, the Rays will be playing at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the spring training facility of the Yankees. This means that, unlike the enclosed Tropicana Field, Steinbrenner Field, with a seating capacity of around 11,000, is susceptible to the elements.
Florida is notorious for its afternoon and early evening thunderstorms during summer, and this pattern can also disrupt spring training games.
