TAMPA, Fla. – Mother Nature dealt the Tampa Bay Rays a literal and figurative blow last summer when Hurricane Milton blasted Tropicana Field with 100+ mph winds , leaving their home stadium in tattered ruins.

This summer, more of an olive branch.

The stadium damage forced the Rays to play their home games this season outdoors at nearby Steinbrenner Field in Tampa , home of the minor league Tampa Tarpons.

PHOTOS SHOW EXTENSIVE DAMAGE INSIDE TAMPA BAY RAYS' TROPICANA FIELD AFTER HURRICANE MILTON

With the heart of baseball season also squarely in the heart of Florida 's summer thunderstorm season, fears of frequent rainouts were justified. Major League Baseball even adjusted the Rays schedule to move two series that were scheduled in summer to earlier in the season.

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