With the Super Bowl behind us, sports fans can rejoice in knowing that baseball is fast approaching. Typically in late March or early April, Opening Day represents the official start of the Major League Baseball (MLB) season, and that summer is finally coming. Over 200 minor league baseball teams exist today with 30 in the majors.
With so many different baseball organizations, teams need a place to prepare for their upcoming seasons. To get ready, teams practice in different facilities in what baseball fans call spring training.
History
Baseball teams began pre-season training outside of their respective cities as early as the 1870s, with the New York Mutuals traveling to New Orleans to prepare for their season. Many teams also went to Arkansas after the management of the Chicago Cubs worked to get ballparks built to support their spring training regiments.
Spring training first came to Florida in 1889 with the Philadelphia Phillies using facilities in Jacksonville. With teams primarily located in the eastern half of the United States, many teams used facilities throughout Florida and the southeastern US to support their baseball seasons. As MLB teams slowly expanded to the west, teams began using Texas and Arizona as spring training sites. The final west coast team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, left Florida for Arizona in 2009.
Today, 15 teams call Florida their springtime home, with 15 residing in Arizona. Teams that workout in Florida are in the Grapefruit League, while teams in Arizona are part of the Cactus League.
Around mid-February, thousands of athletes from all over the world travel to Florida and Arizona with invites from MLB teams. Potential players participate in practices, games, and other baseball conditioning activities. If a player can stand out, they may get an offer to join a team at various levels. Players often get invites from different teams and use spring training as a networking opportunity to meet others throughout the baseball system.
What Makes Spring Training Different?
Spring training is a unique baseball experience. Games are played in smaller ballparks. Training facilities are often in the same complex, but some teams share facilities to combine resources.
Pitchers and catchers report before position players, usually by a week. When all the team arrives, players will participate in many of the logistical aspects of team management, including health physicals and team photos.
Player practices and games occur almost daily. Most practices are open to the public, allowing fans an up close look at their favorite players that they certainly wouldn’t get at a typical Major League game. Player/fan interactions are a lot more common due to smaller crowd sizes.
Players will often have different assignments each day. Some days, they will play in the team’s game, while others will practice. Teams will sometimes do split-squad games, meaning the team will be split and play two different teams at the same time. This allows for more players to have an opportunity to participate and play. Typically, players will only play a few innings before returning to practice. Pitchers specifically, even if they’re a starter, will only pitch a few innings to avoid risk getting injured before the season starts.
Besides playing other Major League squads, teams will sometimes play college teams and participate in other exhibition games for more experience. Spring training is an opportunity to experiment with new plays and test new strategies.
Games are 9 innings, just like a typical baseball matchup. However, extra innings do not happen, and a game can result in a tie if a winner isn’t determined. Many players can be substituted at once, which is common in spring training.
Team Locations
Teams that train in Florida can be divided into three main areas-Tampa Bay area, Fort Myers area, and the east coast. Teams have bounced around various sites throughout Florida throughout their existence. Teams try to stay proximal to one another to make traveling for games easier. With so many players traveling to different locations, teams will often cluster games so they are in one area of the state for several days.
What’s New For 2025?
Many potential MLB rule changes are tested out in spring training before formally being implemented. Major League Baseball tested out the controversial pitch clock in 2023 in spring training before it was standard across the League.
New in 2025, selected games will be umpired with an automated ball-strike system (ABS). The system will use AI to adjust the strike zone based on the specific batter. The system has already been tested in the Minor Leagues and this will be the first time implemented in the Majors. Teams will have a certain number of challenges each game to argue against the system’s pitch calling.
If You Go
- Most games are played at either 1:05PM or 6:05/6:35PM. This means that it is possible to see two games at once if schedules line up.
- Many games have much smaller attendances compared to a typical Major League Baseball game, allowing fans a closer experience. It’s like seeing your favorite Major League team playing in a Minor League ballpark! If you want the opportunity to catch a foul ball or one hit during warmups, spring training is the best option.
- Ballparks are cashless. Many will allow you to pre-pay parking online, but some teams still have local businesses nearby that offer cheaper parking options. This is dependent on where the ballpark is located.
- Because players typically only play a few innings, spring training is the best chance to see your favorite players, while being introduced to the potential stars of tomorrow.
- Ticket prices are generally cheaper than a regular MLB game. Concession prices are also typically cheaper.
Spring training is a cool opportunity to catch a game and see your favorite team and players. Check out your favorite team’s website for schedules and ballpark information!
