PORT CHARLOTTE — Rays Ready for Spring Exhibition Season Opener

The Rays are gearing up for their exhibition season opener at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, where they will not only showcase their home for the regular season but also give fans a glimpse of some of their top young players.

One major change to watch out for is the potential introduction of the automated ball-strike challenge system, which has been tested in the minor leagues over the past three seasons. This new system will be used in about 60% of spring exhibitions to evaluate its effectiveness at the big-league level, with a possible implementation not expected until 2026.

Under the ABS system, umpires will still make the initial calls on balls and strikes, but players can challenge these calls by tapping their cap/helmet. High-tech Hawk-Eye cameras will then display the pitch location relative to the batter’s strike zone on the stadium video board and broadcasts to determine the accuracy of the call.

Challenges that are successful will be retained, but each team will only have two unsuccessful challenges per game, so they must use them wisely. The average challenge time is just 17 seconds.

Rays manager Kevin Cash, who has been in discussions with MLB officials about the system, is eager to see how it plays out on the field. With some of the players and staff already familiar with the system from Triple A, the team will have a better sense of its potential impact during the spring exhibitions.

Exclusive Coverage on FanDuel Sports Network Sun

Starting with the exhibition season opener, FanDuel Sports Network Sun will provide TV and streaming coverage of 12 Rays spring games, including a special coverage of the spring breakout prospects game on March 13.

FanDuel will produce 10 of the telecasts, with some games featuring the opposing team’s broadcast. Ryan Bass will take over as the lead reporter for the coverage crew, bringing fans all the action from the field.

Excitement Builds for the 30-Game Exhibition Season

As the Rays gear up for the 30-game exhibition season, manager Kevin Cash is excited to see his team in action. The energy and camaraderie in the clubhouse have been palpable, and Cash is looking forward to the balance of intense work and team spirit on the field.

Camp Highlights

Junior Caminero, Josh Lowe, and Jonathan Aranda are among the key players scheduled to showcase their skills in Tampa this season, alongside prospects Xavier Isaac and Tre’ Morgan. Non-roster pitchers will take on most of the mound work, with Joey Krehbiel starting off the action. Ryan Pepiot, Jacob Waguespack, Kevin Kelly, and Garrett Acton also had productive bullpen sessions during Thursday’s workout.

• • •