Sports
MLB: Rays' Steinbrenner Field costs to be in $50M-plus range
Feb 14, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; a general view of the stadium during New York Yankees spring training workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images The cost to turn George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., into a major league facility will exceed $50 million, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said.
The Tampa Bay Rays will play their 2025 regular-season schedule at the complex — the training and spring facility of the New York Yankees — after being left without a home stadium. Hurricane Milton tore the roof off Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Oct. 9, leaving about $56 million in repairs that are expected to take at least the entire 2025 season to complete.
The price for improvements at Steinbrenner Field for the Rays don’t include the undisclosed millions of dollars the Yankees paid to upgrade their spring and training facilities.
At the conclusion of spring training, the Yankees will turn over the facility to the Rays, who will benefit from the changes that were in progress before the hurricane hit. Those include added square footage for weight rooms, training areas and dining, as well as areas for player use.
The hurricane kicked off uncertainty about where the Rays will play in the future. A planned stadium in St. Petersburg’s historic Gas Plant District now appears to be up in the air, and there is no guarantee that city-owned Tropicana Field will be ready for play in 2026.
In the meantime, Manfred said Tuesday that MLB is grateful the Yankees have come through to assist the Rays, their American League East rival.
“The industry owes (Yankees principal owner) Hal Steinbrenner a real debt of gratitude, a ton of credit for the approach he took,” Manfred said. “He put literally tens of millions of dollars into improving Steinbrenner Field. The first people who are going to get to use it for any period of time is the Rays. That support for the industry, that collegiality is really an important thing.”
The Yankees will make two trips this season to Tampa to play the Rays in the 11,000-seat ballpark, both times occupying the upgraded clubhouse of the visitors (April 17-20 and Aug. 19-20).
The Athletics, meantime, also will be playing in a minor league ballpark this season. They are awaiting construction of a stadium on the Las Vegas Strip, expected in 2028, and will play at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, Calif., after leaving their longtime home in Oakland.
Manfred said Tuesday the bills aren’t done coming in yet for major league renovations in Sacramento.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orlando City SC sign homegrown D Bernardo Rhein
Nov 24, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; The Orlando City logo is seen prior to a match against Atlanta United in a 2024 MLS Cup conference semifinal match at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Orlando City SC signed homegrown defender Bernardo Rhein to a first-team contract through the 2027-28 season.
The deal includes team options for the 2028-29 and 2029-30 campaigns.
“Bernardo has earned this opportunity through his dedication, consistency and the progress he’s shown at every stage of our development pathway,” said Orlando City general manager Ricardo Moreira.
“Having started in futsal, Bernardo brings flair and intensity to our backline. From the Academy to OCB and now the First Team, he has embraced every challenge and continued to grow as a player and as a person. This signing reflects our commitment to developing talent from within, and we’re excited to support Bernardo as he takes the next step in his career with the Club.”
The 18-year-old made his MLS debut on April 22, 2026, against Charlotte FC. He becomes the 19th Orlando City Academy product to advance through the full development pathway.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jerry Kelly ties Cameron Percy atop Senior Open leaderboard
Jerry Kelly drives on hole No. 4 during the Kaulig Companies PGA Championship Final Round, July 12, 2026, at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. With a 2-under par third round, Jerry Kelly tied Cameron Percy atop the leaderboard of the ISPS Handa Senior Open in Perth, Scotland on Saturday.
For Kelly, it was his second straight round of 2-under par 68 en route to being at 8-under 202 through three rounds. Meanwhile, Percy had his roughest afternoon of the week with a 1-over 71. The Australian started the event red hot with a 7-under 63.
Peter Baker (67, 5-under 205) and South Africa’s Darren Fichardt (68, 4-under) resided in third and fourth place, respectively. Pat Perez (67), South African Ernie Els (71) and Austria’s Markus Brier are all tied for fifth at three-under par.
Despite his position, Kelly, 59, remains focused on the round ahead of him.
“Yeah, we scoreboard watch, but it’s still Saturday,” he said. “So, there’s no real emotions going on for that scoreboard. Just want to position yourself for tomorrow and you want to get the job done tomorrow and that’s the key.”
Nevertheless, he recognized how meaningful it would be to win a Senior Open Championship.
“Yeah, that would be one of the most special things at this stage of my career. Like any player, I might treasure that above all else.”
Tim Petrovic was the round leader, shooting a 4-under that vaulted him 46 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 16th place.
Clark Dennis had a strong showing, as well. His 67 shot him up 21 spots to a tie for eighth place.
Charles Schwab Cup leader Stewart Cink (70) is tied for 31st at 3-over 213.
–Field Level Media
Sports
With 318th homer, Royals' Salvador Perez sets club mark
Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) receives receives congratulations from teammates after he hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Salvador Perez, who hit the first home run of his career at Comerica Park in Detroit in 2011, set the Kansas City Royals’ all-time record with No. 318 on Saturday at the same venue.
In the Royals’ 3-2 win over the Tigers, Perez tied the game at 2 in the seventh inning with a 401-foot solo shot to left off right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan.
Perez’s blast broke a tie with Hall of Famer George Brett, who hit 317 homers for Kansas City from 1973-93. Like Brett, Perez has played his entire career with the Royals since debuting in 2011.
The 36-year-old is batting .210 with 15 homers and 44 RBIs in 98 games this season. He is a nine-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove catcher.
In 1,805 games with Kansas City, Perez has hit .261 with 748 runs and 1,060 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Orlando City SC sign homegrown D Bernardo Rhein
Jerry Kelly ties Cameron Percy atop Senior Open leaderboard
