As the World Series shifts to St. Petersburg for Game 3, the Milwaukee Brewers are taking proactive steps to master one of baseball’s most unique home-field quirks: the intricate roof structure of Tropicana Field. Holding a 2-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Rays after a pair of tightly contested, one-run victories at home, the visiting club spent an on-field workout deliberately launching balls toward the ceiling to simulate unpredictable bounces.
The preparation comes on the heels of a previous postseason roof encounter in Milwaukee. During Game 1 of the National League Division Series at American Family Field, San Diego Padres first baseman Ty France drove a deep ninth-inning ball to left field that struck a roof cable before settling safely into the glove of Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio for an out.
Unlike Milwaukee’s retractable setup, which has only a brief history of interfering with live action, Tropicana Field’s fixed dome features a well-established set of ground rules governing its four distinct ceiling catwalks, designated as the A-, B-, C- and D-rings. Under stadium regulations, any fair ball striking the lower and outermost two rings—the C-ring and D-ring—is ruled a home run. Conversely, a fair ball hitting either of the top two rings, the A-ring or B-ring, remains in play. If a fair ball actually comes to rest on one of the top two catwalks, the batter is awarded a ground-rule double. Foul balls hitting any of the structures are ruled dead balls.
To ready fielders for these peculiar dynamics, Brewers coaches utilized pitching machines to angle balls directly toward the ceiling during the workout session. According to the Rays’ official media guide, 200 fair balls had struck the catwalks entering the 2026 season. The stadium’s roof architecture continues to influence modern play; earlier this year, New York Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones lofted a towering pop fly during the ALDS that ricocheted off the B-ring and was caught by Victor Mesa Jr. for an out.
Having last played at Tropicana Field in 2023, the Brewers are leaving nothing to chance as the Fall Classic continues. With the opening games separated by just a single run each, manager Pat Murphy emphasized the necessity of adapting to the venue’s distinctive environment. It is very much a different place, Murphy noted, adding that making necessary adjustments is simply part of being a big leaguer.
