If you turn on the World Series Friday night and the Rays look like a team from 1998, you are not imagining it. Tampa Bay has spent the last few years quietly bringing the Devil Rays look back, and this October it is the whole story of their wardrobe.
So, are the Rays becoming the Devil Rays again? Not officially. The name is still the Rays, and the team has not announced a rebrand. But look at what they actually wear now, and the answer is: on the field, they are most of the way there.
Quick Answers
- Did the Rays change their name back to the Devil Rays? No. They have been the Rays since 2008, and no name change has been announced.
- What is new? A gray road uniform with TAMPA BAY across the chest in the rainbow gradient of the original Devil Rays, revealed September 21, 2026. It replaced the Columbia blue sunburst jersey as the primary road uniform.
- What will the Rays wear in the World Series? In Milwaukee (Games 1, 2, 6, 7), we expect the new TAMPA BAY gray. At Tropicana Field (Games 3, 4, 5), the home white or the Devil Rays throwback. Full game-by-game in our World Series uniforms guide.
- Is the sunburst gone? No. The home white still has the sunburst bursting off the "R." It has just lost the road.
How the Devil Rays Look Came Back, Step by Step
From Devil Rays to Rays and Back
That last step is the big one. The original 1998-2000 Devil Rays road jersey was gray with TAMPA BAY in a gradient across the chest. The 2026 road uniform is a modern version of exactly that, and the cap is a modernized version of the original 1998 "TB" logo, with the old black swapped for today's navy. TAMPA BAY had not been on the Rays' primary road jersey since the end of the 2007 season, the last year of the Devil Rays name.
Image: Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays' October Has Been All Devil Rays
Look at what Tampa Bay wore to get to the World Series:
- On the road, the new TAMPA BAY gray in all four road playoff games (3-1).
- At home, the white Devil Rays throwback twice, including ALCS Game 6, when they beat the Guardians 7-3 to win the pennant. They are 2-0 in it this October.
- The sunburst home white went 2-1.
The pennant-clinching photos, the celebration on the field, the ALCS champions gear: a lot of it is the Devil Rays look. For a casual fan watching Tampa Bay for the first time this year, the rainbow is what the Rays look like now.
What Has Not Changed
The sunburst is not gone. The home white still has "Rays" arched across the chest in navy with the yellow sunburst off the "R," with the navy "TB" cap, and it is still the default on most home nights that are not Fridays or Saturdays. The navy alternate and the Columbia blue jersey are still in the closet; the Columbia blue just lost its job as the main road look.
So the honest answer is a split: the Rays are the Devil Rays on the road and on big nights, and still the sunburst Rays on a regular Tuesday at home.
My Take: Put the TB Back on the Home Throwback Cap
Jake's Take
I love that the colors are back. The one thing I would change is the cap on the home throwback. Right now it is just the devil ray. The new road cap has the TB with the ray, and that is the one I want at home too. I like it when a team wears its city's initials on its head.
The road cap already proves it works: the navy "TB" with the ray on the new gray is a cleaner, more identifiable mark than the standalone ray. Putting that cap with the white throwback would make the home Devil Rays look match the road one.
Will the Rays Change Their Name Back to the Devil Rays?
There is no announcement, and we would not bet on a name change. What is clear is the direction. Every new uniform Tampa Bay has added since 2023 leans on the Devil Rays era: the Friday throwback, the rainbow stripe on the City Connect, and now TAMPA BAY in the gradient on the road. The team is also working toward a new ballpark, and new parks are when clubs usually reset their look. If a full identity change ever comes, it will most likely come with the new stadium, not before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Rays changing their name back to the Devil Rays?
No. The team has been the Tampa Bay Rays since the 2008 season, and no name change has been announced. What has changed is the uniforms: the new gray road jersey and the Friday home throwback both use the original Devil Rays rainbow colors.
What jersey will the Rays wear in the World Series?
In Milwaukee for Games 1, 2, 6 and 7, we expect the new gray road uniform with TAMPA BAY in the rainbow gradient. At Tropicana Field for Games 3, 4 and 5, the home white or the Devil Rays throwback. We confirm both teams' jerseys at first pitch in our World Series uniforms guide.
When did the Rays get the new gray road uniform?
The Rays revealed it on September 21, 2026, and it debuted September 22 in the second game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. It replaced the Columbia blue sunburst jersey as their primary road uniform. Our review of the new road gray grades it an A.
Why did the Devil Rays become the Rays?
The franchise dropped "Devil" from its name for the 2008 season and introduced the sunburst logo, a nod to the Florida sun. The rebrand lined up with the team's first winning season and its first trip to the World Series.
What hat do the Rays wear with the Devil Rays throwback?
A navy cap with the devil ray on it, as in their ALCS Game 6 pennant win. The new road gray uses a different cap: a navy version of the original 1998 "TB" logo.
When do the Rays wear the Devil Rays throwback?
Most Friday home games since 2023, plus Opening Day and, this October, two home playoff games, including the pennant clincher. See the full Rays uniform schedule.
What are the Rays' colors?
The current Rays colors are navy, Columbia blue and yellow, with the yellow sunburst. The original Devil Rays colors were a gradient of purple, blue, green and yellow, which the throwback and the new road uniform bring back.
How many World Series have the Rays played in?
Three: 2008 against the Phillies, 2020 against the Dodgers, and 2026 against the Brewers. They are still looking for their first title.
The Bottom Line
The Rays did not become the Devil Rays again, but they are dressing like it. The rainbow is on the road, on Friday nights and on the pennant-winning night, and it will be on the field in Milwaukee on Friday for Game 1. The sunburst still lives on the home white. If they ever do go all the way back, start with the cap: TB with the ray, home and road.
