NORTH PORT, Fla. -- LED lighting throughout the ballpark -- including blue lights on the roof -- and a new turf are some of the new additions to the Rays' home at Tropicana Field this season.

Sunday was the first opportunity for Rays players to get familiar with the new lighting, as the team hosted its first pregame workout at the Trop before the game against the Braves in North Port. The team is scheduled to have three more workouts at home, as well as a Tuesday exhibition game against the Tigers, in order to get familiar with the lights and the turf before Thursday’s Opening Day game against the Astros.

The new blue LED lights on top of the roof are pending approval from Major League Baseball, but the Rays are confident the change will be approved in the next few days. Part of the idea behind adding the lights was to give the roof another look while also helping defenders pick up the baseball a little bit easier.

“I thought it was awesome,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “I’m looking forward to seeing it tonight. The guys’ feedback was good. It’ll be interesting to see it tonight, but from what I’ve been told and seen in pictures, it’s like a darker blue [at night]. It gives more contrast to the ball.”

Picking up the baseball has been an issue for defenders for the past two decades at Tropicana Field, but most players say it becomes less of an issue the more they play inside the ballpark. Guillermo Heredia, who played at the Trop as a member of the Mariners, said he felt a little difference, but nothing too significant. Austin Meadows believes the outfielders will benefit from it, especially when the lights get darker during night games.

“I liked it,” Meadows said. “I think at night it will benefit us because you can see the ball a little bit. I feel like we’re able to pick it up a little bit better. It’s hard to tell during the day, but I think at night it’ll be easier to see. It looks cool, too.”