The Tampa Bay Rays kicked off their 25th season on Thursday, March 30 against the Detroit Tigers. Playing this team brought a sense of nostalgia to fans because in 1988, almost exactly 25 years ago, at the Rays’ first game, they played the Tigers. Retired Rays pitcher James Sheilds started the game by throwing the first pitch. Excited fans watched as a beloved pitcher again took the Tropicana Field mound. Before the game even started, there was recognition for more members of the Rays. Dom Zimmer, coacher the Rays, has officially become the first person in the Tampa Bay Rays Hall of Fame.   

Once the players took the field, they played three full scoreless innings before Jose Siri hit a home run into left field in the bottom of the fourth but afterwards they went another two innings without any scoring.  

At the bottom of the sixth, they scored two more runs. Taylor Walls scored one after Randy Arozarena hit a ground ball to center field. Issac Paredes scored the last run of the inning after Luke Raley hit him in.   

By the seventh inning stretch, Rays fans were excited to start their season with a win and went into the eighth inning with confidence. That confidence transferred to the players as Wander Franco hit a home run to center field to secure a four-run lead. The Tigers still didn’t score in the ninth, and the game ended halfway through the inning, with an ending score of 4-0.  

The stadium was sold out as devoted fans packed in to watch the team start the new season.