TAMPA, Fla. — Chicago White Sox outfielder/infielder Brooks Baldwin had some familiarity with the temporary home of the Tampa Bay Rays.
“I played here in high school, East Coast Pro (showcase),” Baldwin told the Tribune on Monday.
That event was in 2017.
“It looks exactly the same, not much has changed,” Baldwin said. “A few more fans (on Monday). There weren’t a lot of fans at that (East Coast Pro) event, that was a great event to be a part of.”
Baldwin performed well in the settings on Monday, hitting a three-run home run in the first inning of the 8-3 Sox victory at George M. Steinbrenner Field in front of a sellout crowd of 10,046.
“The facilities are still great,” Baldwin said. “The away cages are awesome. We were on the home side when I was here last time. It’s awesome. But this is better than I expected.”
The Rays are playing at the stadium, the spring training home of the New York Yankees, this season after Hurricane Milton caused extensive damage to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., last October.
Baldwin is one of several Sox players with prior experience at the park, which is also a minor-league facility for the Yankees’ Single-A Tampa Tarpons. Pitchers Tyler Alexander and Brandon Eisert and outfielders Michael A. Taylor and Mike Tauchman have played at least one spring training game at Steinbrenner Field.
Eisert pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out two in two appearances at the ballpark during spring training in 2024 while with the Toronto Blue Jays.
“It’s a little interesting,” Eisert told the Tribune on Monday of returning. “Somewhat familiar, still a little different because they’ve done some renovations. (Being) back in Florida, where I spent a few spring trainings, is interesting.”
Mike Vasil recorded 11 strikeouts at the stadium on May 17, 2022, while pitching for the St. Lucie Mets, a Single-A affiliate of the New York Mets in the Florida State League. He allowed one run (none earned) on two hits in seven innings that day against the Tarpons.
“I had like a Tuesday-Sunday double barrel (for St. Lucie, pitching on May 17 and May 22),” Vasil told the Tribune on Monday. “The last time I was here, I got promoted to High-A (Brooklyn), so that was my last time at this field (pitching for St. Lucie). I had probably one of my better starts in the minors here.
“It was great. I loved it. It was awesome and I really liked throwing here. It’s a pretty good park to play in, especially low-A.”
The Sox played in a Triple-A park earlier this season when they traveled to West Sacramento, Calif., in April for a series against the Athletics. Whether it’s West Sacramento or Tampa, Sox manager Will Venable said there are plans in place to become accustomed to a new surrounding.
“We do our recon and ask people around the league what has popped up for them,” Venable said on Monday. “We’ll go out there, have (batting practice) and have guys make sure they touch base with the surface, have an understanding of the surroundings and everything.
“The big thing we heard is the twilight is an issue here. That’s something we’ll be prepared for and extra emphasis on communication. And offensively, just not assuming anything.”
Venable said before Tuesday’s game that the park “played fine.”
“It was hot (89 degrees on first pitch), as all the guys felt,” Venable said. “For those guys out there, I knew it took a toll on them. But they continued to do their thing. The twilight didn’t impact the game. The ball was carrying to right, the shorter porch over there.
“It played fine and didn’t really impact the game. Yeah, it was unique.”
Sox reinstate pitcher Davis Martin from the IL
Davis Martin returned from the 15-day injured list and was the scheduled starter for Tuesday’s game against the Rays.
The right-hander retroactively went on the IL on June 17 with a right forearm strain. In Tuesday’s corresponding move, the Sox optioned right-handed pitcher Wikelman González to Triple-A Charlotte.
Martin entered Tuesday 2-7 with a 3.79 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 14 appearances (13 starts). He has recorded career highs this season in strikeouts, innings (80 2/3) and starts while matching his career high in appearances.
“Love having him in our rotation,” Venable said. “He’s one of our guys. He’s one of the guys you just depend on every five days to go out there and compete, get the job done and give us a chance to win.”