‘It turns your stomach,’ other words from around MLB on damage to Tropicana Field

DALLAS As the father of three young kids and manager of 26 players and dozens of staff from different backgrounds, Rocco Baldelli typically has plenty of thoughts and words racing through his head.

But seeing videos and photos of Tropicana Field ravaged by Hurricane Milton in early October left the former longtime Rays player and coach speechless.

That was an incredibly sad picture, and I didnt really have any words for it, said Baldelli, the seventh-year Twins manager.

That was my home in baseball for a long time.

And part of me just still feels that way.

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The Trop opened in 1990 and has been the home of the Rays since they began play in 1998.

There are a lot of memories attached to the building itself, but its really about the fans and its about the people in the organization and the area, Baldelli said.

Seeing the roof flapping in the wind and the rain coming down, and watching all of it, its sad.

It turns your stomach.

You kind of feel helpless in some ways while youre watching it, too.

I couldnt do anything about it.

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Really what youre hoping for are the people of the area, the Rays organization, all the people there, that things work out in a really positive way.

Baldelli was one of several current and former Rays personnel, and others around baseball, who shared their thoughts about the damage to the stadium and how the team will handle the situation with the Tampa Bay Times during baseballs recent winter meetings.

Answers have been edited for brevity and clarity.

Chuck LaMar Devil Rays original general manager The time and effort it took just to make the Thunderdome (as the stadium was previously known) into a baseball facility, and theyve done such a good job we all know it has its limitations, but theyve done a fabulous job of making it as good a facility as they can and then to see it all torn down ...

Its funny, my first thought went to the offices.

Everybodys worried about the playing field.

Im thinking, wheres the staff? Wheres the staff going to go? When you saw that roof come off and all the work thats been done, and when you heard that it was going to take a year or so to get it fixed (under a plan proposed by the city but that the team didnt want enacted), you thought, dang, is this the end? Is this the end of that facility? Chris Archer Former Rays All-Star pitcher It was really sad.

Theres been so many great memories from the first pitch that was thrown there in 1998, the 2008 season and that whole run.

Personally, I loved Tropicana Field.

Its hard to get to, and some nights were quieter than others, but actually going there, I loved having it as my office.

Its really sad to see what happened and just how its all played out.

I feel bad for the players, the fans, the staff.

It just really hurt to see.

R.J.

Harrison Among first Rays staffers hired in 1995 Sadness.

Before you even start thinking about all the other stuff were having to deal with (like) where are we going to play, what are we going to do, I just felt bad.

I felt bad for the club.

I feel bad for (principal owner Stu Sternberg), (team presidents Matt Silverman and Brian Auld) and all the work those people have done.

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I remember going to watch the Lightning playing in that building (as they did for three seasons from 1993-96) when we first started getting (the Devil Rays staff) together before we started playing.

So, yeah, theres a lot of memories.

I havent seen it in person (since the hurricane) because I live in Phoenix, but Ive seen the pictures and heard all the accounts.

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You know, were a resilient bunch.

These guys, these people, they just make the best of it.

And I think thats what well do.

Kevin Cash Rays manager When I saw (the video of the Trop roof), I think I was like many people, I didnt think it was real.

We went to Gainesville to my in-laws (to evacuate) and then drove home the next morning and saw three-quarters of the roof gone.

Your mind just starts racing and wondering what is going to take place.

I certainly didnt appreciate the magnitude of it in the moment.

But Im happy that we have a home (for 2025 at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa) and that were going to be able to play in the bay area.

I think that was the most important thing.

Certainly given what has taken place over the last couple months there, Im glad that were going to be able to represent our community by staying local.

Cam Bonifay Front office executive, 2001-05 I just hope they had insurance.

Scott Boras Prominent agent When you have things like this happen in a community because this is not just a team, its a community there should be a force, there should be an all hands on deck, were all going through this together, were all going to have irregularity be the regular, and its something that we have to build off of rather than concerns ourselves with.

I think being part of (difficult) situations and injuries and teams, you have to have that attitude and it has to the be the right attitude and I think the leader of that franchise, (baseball operations president Erik Neander), has the right attitude.

I really think so.

Sandy Dengler 21-year Rays employee, starting in 1998 I was horrified, and then I was just concerned.

Because all I could think of was whats going to happen to everybody who works there.

Everybody from grounds crew to maintenance to game day (staff) whats going to happen.

And are they OK? But it was horrifying.

Bud Black Manager of Rockies, who face Rays to start 2025 season Obviously it was tragic what happened to the Trop.

But life stuff happens, and you move on.

I know that everybody is going to put their best foot forward to get this done the right way.

I dont have any apprehension about (playing at Steinbrenner Field) not going well.

I think its going to be fine.

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I know that the Rays and MLB will do everything in their power to make it feel as though its a major league game it will be a major league game.

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It will be a nice little diversion from the Trop in a good way.

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