How Long Are Tampa Bay Rays Games?

Baseball may be thought of as one of the more complicated sports in America. However, the rules of the sport are generally quite simple and straightforward. Nonetheless, baseball, unlike other popular sports such as basketball, soccer, hockey, and football, has no set time limit.

This means that, theoretically, a baseball game could last as little as half an hour to as long as eight hours. However, generally, most baseball games start and end within a similar amount of time.

But if you are wondering just how long a Tampa Bay Rays game is, then you’ve come to the right spot. Below, we will take a look at how long a Tampa Bay Rays game is and what you can expect when you go to a Rays game at Tropicana Field.

Attending a Tampa Bay Rays game? Find out what to wear to Tropicana Field!

Things to do Around Tropicana Field

Let’s be honest, Tropicana Field, in the heart of St. Petersburg, has a plethora of options and things to do both before and after a Rays game.

And whether you’re getting to Tropicana Field by foot, taxi, or the subway, you’ll have plenty of options for food, drink, and entertainment.

• St Pete Axe & Ale – St Pete Axe & Ale is an outdoor venue where axe throwing is king! The first axe throwing range in St Petersburg and the only axe throwing venue in the bay area with food and drinks available! You’ll have an opportunity to showoff your axe throwing skills while taking in the views and enjoying refreshing food and drinks.

• Imagine Museum – one of the best museums in all of Florida, The Imagine Museum’s mission is to elevate the art and artists from around the world who work with the astounding material of glass. As stated by the museum, “Through the Museum’s collection, we hope to inspire, uplift and educate our community about the properties of glass and how it has enhanced civilizations. When put into the creative hands of artists, glass art elevates and arouses our senses through its beauty, reflection, and form.”

• Vertical Ventures – perhaps one of the best names for a rock climbing gym, Vertical Ventures has been providing the St. Petersburg area with rock climbing adventures since 1996. Housed in a 20,000 square foot location, you’ll find 40-foot tall routes and over 150 routes to climb. A great space with professional staff, Vertical Ventures is a must-visit when in St. Petersburg.

• Kalamazoo Olive Co. – Kalamazoo Olive Co. has been providing the St. Petersburg area with the freshest, most gourmet olive oils and balsamic vinegars since 2010. Founded on the belief of trying before you buy, you are encouraged to try their various oils and vinegars to find the perfect one to satisfy your palate.

How Many Innings Are in a Baseball Game?

Unlike basketball, football, soccer, or hockey, which are governed by individual time limits by quarter, half, or periods, baseball is divided into innings. And, in order for an inning to be completed, there must be six total outs with each team being afforded three outs before the end of an inning half.

The completion of an inning is determined when six total outs have been completed against both teams combined.

However, there are a few different ways a team can accrue an out against the opposing team.

• A batter strikes out, wherein they attempt to hit the ball but are unable to, in three separate chances
• The batter flies out, wherein they strike the ball but it is caught before landing on the field
• The batter is tagged out, wherein they are touched by an opponent who has the ball in hand and while they are not safely standing on a base

In terms of innings played, it is dependent on the level of play and individual league to determine the total number of innings. However, below’s table, speaks to the general number of innings you can expect per baseball game.

League Level	Number of Innings	Average Time
MLB	9	3 hours
Minor League	9	3 hours
College Baseball Games	9 or 7	3 hours
High School Baseball Games	7	2 hours
Youth Baseball Games	5 or 6	1-1.5 hours

Why do Baseball Games Take So Long?

While there is no official time limit in a baseball or MLB game, the MLB has steps in recent years to shorten the overall length of their games. In addition, the MLB has instituted rules to quicken the pace of the game, including MLB Rule 8.04, which states:

“When the bases are unoccupied, the pitcher shall deliver the ball to the batter within 12 seconds after he receives the ball. Each time the pitcher delays the game by violating this rule, the umpire shall call ‘Ball.’ The 12-second timing starts when the pitcher is in possession of the ball and the batter is in the box, alert to the pitcher. The timing stops when the pitcher releases the ball. The intent of this rule is to avoid unnecessary delays. The umpire shall insist that the catcher return the ball promptly to the pitcher, and that the pitcher take his position on the rubber promptly. Obvious delay by the pitcher should instantly be penalized by the umpire.”

However, many umpires do not enforce this rule and allow pitchers to take as much time as they need between pitches.

Below, we’ve listed a few additional reasons why MLB games take so long.

• Time between pitches – perhaps the greatest reason why MLB games take so long is that pitchers take, on average, 40-seconds between pitches. And with 146 pitches thrown per game, these seconds can add up quickly

• Errors in baseball – when an error occurs, that is when a fielder misplays the ball, it adds more time to the one play and delays the completion of the game.

• Umpire reviews – similarly, the MLB utilizes instant replay reviews to allow for league officials to review certain types of plays in order to determine the accuracy of the initial call of the umpires on the field. These reviews take several minutes and take away from the time spent on the game.

• Pitcher warmups – in addition, when taking their position at the beginning of an inning or when relieving another pitcher, pitchers are permitted to throw as many warmup pitches as they want within the countdown parameters set forth by Major League Baseball.

• Commercials – similarly, the MLB and its network broadcasters have begun to implement more commercial breaks between innings. These commercial breaks add several minutes to the game between innings and lengthen the overall time that a game is played.

How Long Are Rays Games?

While baseball technically has no time limit, each team tends to play at their own pace and style. And for the Tampa Bay Rays, the average game length ranges from 2.5 hours to over 4 hours. However, looking at the average, most Rays games take just over 3-hours to complete.

In referencing the above mentioned average game length for the Tampa Bay Rays, and utilizing data for the 2021 MLB season, we can see that the average length of a Rays game was 3-hours 6-minutes and 56-seconds.