The Tampa Bay Rays open the 2017 Major League Baseball regular season on Sunday, April 2 at 1:10 p.m. against the New York Yankees as part of a two-team, seven-game homestand. Following Opening Day, the Rays have an off-day on Monday before continuing the series against the Yankees on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 4-5 at 7:10 p.m. The homestand concludes with the Rays first weekend series of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays (April 6-9). The 2017 Rays Baseball season is presented by Tampa General Hospital.
On Opening Day, all fans in attendance will receive a Rays schedule magnet, courtesy of Tropicana, while supplies last. Gen. Raymond A. Thomas III, a senior officer in the U.S. Army and current commander of Joint Special Operations Command, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. SSgt. Cherrelle Warren, an Aerospace medical technician from MacDill Air Force Base, will perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" pregame and "God Bless America" during the 7th-inning stretch. The U.S. flag will be presented by the United States Central Command's Joint Service Color Guard. Opening Day will also include Family Fun Day activities, courtesy of Tampa General Hospital. Concourse activities will be complimentary for kids 14 and under, but will not include Kids Run the Bases or a DJ Kitty Dance Party following the game.
The Rays-Yankees series continues on Tuesday, April 4 at 7:10 p.m. Rays catcher Wilson Ramos will receive his 2016 Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award, which recognizes the most outstanding offensive player at each position in the AL and NL, from Louisville Slugger officials prior to the game. The series concludes on Wednesday, April 5, with St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the game.
The Rays take on the Blue Jays on Thursday, April 6 and Friday, April 7 at 7:10 p.m. On Thursday, the Rays will welcome representatives from local area police departments to launch their 2017 police ticket voucher programs. The Rays provide ticket vouchers to the St. Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater, Temple Terrace and Bradenton Police Departments, as well as the Pinellas County Sherriff's office, whose officers utilize these vouchers to reward good citizenship and enhance the relationships between the officers and the community. Through a partnership with the 7-Eleven Operation Chill® program, each police ticket voucher will also include a free small Slurpee, compliments of 7-Eleven.
Prior to Friday's contest, Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier will receive his 2016 Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award, which recognizes the top defensive player at each position across both the AL and NL, from Wilson officials. When gates open prior to Saturday's 6:10 p.m. game the following day, the first 15,000 fans will receive a Kevin Kiermaier Gold Glove Bobblehead, presented by DEX Imaging. That night he will accept his second consecutive American League Gold Glove Award from Rawlings. The Rays homestand concludes on Sunday, April 9 with a 1:10 p.m. contest. Upon entry, kids 14 and under will receive a Baseball Bat Pack, courtesy of Sagicor Life Insurance Company. All Rays promotional items are available while supplies last.
Family Fun Days, presented by Tampa General Hospital, return this season for every Sunday home game, starting Sunday, April 9. Family Fun Days will feature free parking for cars with four or more passengers and a variety of postgame activities for kids, including Kids Run the Bases and a DJ Kitty Dance Party featuring mascots and entertainers. For the fourth consecutive season, concourse activities will be complimentary for kids 14 and under. Activities include the Grand Slam Alley presented by GameTime, Power Alley Batting Cage, Speed Pitch, Raymond's Art Studio and Topps Make Your Own Baseball Card. Extra entertainers will also perform on Sundays, including face painters, airbrush tattoo artists, magicians, caricaturists, stilt walkers, jugglers and balloon artists.
The Rays are also offering new weekday specials throughout the season including:
COMING UP AT THE REPUBLIC BANK DRAFT ROOM -- On Sunday, April 2, from 10:30-11:00 a.m., Rays pre- and postgame analyst Orestes Destrade will participate in a meet-and-greet in the Republic Bank Draft Room, the exclusive area for season ticket holders which blends hospitality and comfort with behind-the-scenes access to Rays staff, players and coaches. Following Destrade's meet-and-greet, Rays mascots Raymond (11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.) and DJ Kitty (12:00-12:30 p.m.) will greet and take photos with fans. On Tuesday, April 4 from 6:30-7:00 p.m., DJ Kitty will have a meet-and-greet session with fans. Former Rays right-handed pitcher Esteban Yan will visit the Draft Room and sign autographs from 12:00-12:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 9.
2017 STADIUM CHANGES -- Due to a change in their diet, fans will no longer be able to purchase food and feed the stingrays at the Rays Touch Tank this season. However, the Tank remains free for fans to experience and pet the stingrays. In addition, (727) 205-0557 is the new text-assistance number for fans at Tropicana Field to send their issue and location via text message.
GATES OPEN -- Monday-Thursday, 1½ hours prior to game time; Friday-Sunday, 2 hours prior to game time.
*Exception to normal gate time include: Opening Day -- Sunday, April 2 (1:10 p.m.), as gates will be open at 10:00 a.m. with players at the gates greeting fans for the first few minutes.