Reeling Rays lend a helping hand, discuss Trop damage

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ryan Pepiot called looking out at a decapitated Tropicana Field, from his St. Petersburg apartment, a sad reminder of Hurricane Milton’s impacts on his new home.

The Rays organization, a microcosm of the surrounding community, is still reeling from the effects of back-to-back storms. While some lost their homes – and all lost their workplace – nearly 100 staffers have spent the week assisting nonprofits helping families impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Several players also wanted to give back to their fanbase. Pepiot, his wife, Lilia, and fellow pitchers Pete Fairbanks, Colin Poche, Kevin Kelly and his wife, Sarah, joined the Feeding Tampa Bay and SPCA Tampa Bay to hand out food and supplies in the Trop’s parking lots Tuesday evening.

“The people here are the ones who support us,” Pepiot said. “This is the least we can do. Any way we can help, we’re here to help.”

United Way Suncoast organized the events according to need. Volunteers spent Monday afternoon boxing groceries at a Feeding Tampa Bay distribution center.

Mobile pantries distribute the groceries in hard-hit areas lacking access to nutritious, affordable food. Ernest Hooper, chief communications officer of United Way Suncoast, said post-hurricane needs have not subsided.

“Due to an overpouring of requests from our staff … we reached out to the United Way Suncoast, who’s done a great job being a resource for everyone in our community,” said David Egles, executive director of the Rays Baseball Foundation.

“We’ve been out here every day this week – and we’ll continue to do so for the rest of the week.”

Staffers spent Tuesday clearing debris at Girls Inc. in Pinellas Park. The nonprofit’s website states it “equips girls to lead fulfilling and productive lives, break the cycle of poverty and become role models in their community.”

Girls Inc. has waived fees for members. Darla Otey-Murphy, executive director, said team volunteers saved the organization “thousands of dollars.”

A back area with dozens of trees provides an outdoor respite from the sun for the nonprofit’s girls during the summertime. Otey-Murphy called it an “amazing area of catastrophe” after Milton.

“Limbs were torn down, trees were broken, and water pooled in areas behind us,” she added. “So, having help made an amazing difference. There’s nothing like the Tampa Bay region when it comes to stepping up and meeting the needs of those around us.”

The Rays committed $1 million to relief efforts after Helene. Egles noted that staff “always steps up to the challenge.”

Pepiot said he and his wife were among “the lucky ones.” While their high-rise apartment did not sustain damage, he said it was “tough to drive around and see the devastation.”

“There’s a lot of unknowns,” Pepiot said of the Trop. “A lot of questions that nobody has answers to, but I’m just hoping that something good can come of it.”

A severely damaged Tropicana Field (background) is a stark reminder of Hurricane Milton’s impacts on St. Petersburg. Photo: Davida Franklin/Tampa Bay Rays.

Fairbanks said he was in disbelief watching videos of Milton shredding the Trop’s semi-translucent dome. “I guess we’ll have to see where we go from here,” he added.

However, Fairbanks’ primary focus was to help “ease the burden” for a slowly recovering community. He called those efforts “very necessary” and humanizing for players, who fans typically only see from the stands or on TV.

“When it’s somebody that’s there giving you two bags of dog food or handing out a meal, it’s a real person – you’re able to see that and make that connection,” Fairbanks said. “And I think that’s part of our obligation.”

Like his teammates, Kelly called watching the Trop’s Teflon-coated fiberglass roof waving in the wind “shocking” and “devastating.” He also noted the importance of supporting those who support the team inside and outside of the stadium.

The decimated dome loomed behind the volunteers as they handed out food and supplies. Roche called it a sad reminder of a place that “holds a special place in our heart.”

“Hopefully, we can get back in there at some point,” Roche said. “It’s tough to see. But, in the grand scheme of things, compared to what some of these other people lost, it’s pretty minor.”

The Rays returned to Feeding Tampa Bay’s distribution center Wednesday and will host an unannounced community relief event Thursday afternoon.