KANSAS CITY — With the ALDS tied at one, some members of the Yankees weren’t completely focused on baseball before the team took a 2-1 series lead over the Royals on Wednesday.
That’s understandable, as the Tampa Bay region and other parts of Florida were bracing for Hurricane Milton. The Category 3 storm slammed the heavily-evacuated area on Wednesday evening, leaving a wake of devastation in its path.
According to NBC News, at least nine people were confirmed dead as of Thursday morning. Millions were without power.
“We certainly are keeping our thoughts and prayers for everybody in that state,” Brian Cashman said before the brunt of the storm. “Everybody already knows how bad this thing is supposed to be, and the only thing you can pray for now is a U-turn. If this thing can do a U-turn and just go back into the Gulf and dissipate, but that’s not going to happen.”
As Cashman predicted, that did not occur.
In addition to loss of life, Milton caused widespread damage. In the baseball world, the Rays’ Tropicana Field suffered the most notable destruction, as the hurricane ripped the domed stadium’s roof to shreds.
Now that the sun is up, here’s a 360-degree view of the damage Hurricane Milton caused to Tropicana Field’s roof and the inside of the ballpark. Absolutely heartbreaking
pic.twitter.com/ZCtPHv6rE9
— Ryan Bass (@Ry_Bass) October 10, 2024
The Yankees, meanwhile, have their player development complex, nicknamed Himes, in Tampa. Their spring training complex, George M. Steinbrenner Field, is across the street and is also home to the Tampa Tarpons, the Yankees’ Single-A affiliate.
Cashman didn’t have an update on the condition of Himes. A team spokesperson said that Steinbrenner Field was being used as a shelter for team employees and their families.
“It’s just real scary stuff,” Cashman said. “So I hope and pray everybody can be safe and the damage is minimal, but that’s probably not gonna be the case.”
With Milton approaching, the Yankees shut down their instructional league operations and got their minor leaguers out of the area. Meanwhile, players who were staying ready for a potential postseason role in Tampa are now doing so in New York.
Several Yankees players and executives, including Aaron Judge and Hal Steinbrenner, have homes in the Tampa area. With the Bombers preparing for what became a 3-2 postseason victory, the hurricane certainly brought about what Cashman called “real world” concerns before a baseball game.
“When you’re in the heat of the playoffs and everything that we’re playing for, there’s always doses of perspective that come in and do that,” Aaron Boone added. “It’s an uncertain time. So just gotta pray for the best and hope for hope for safety for people.”
