Early February through late March, Major League Baseball (MLB) teams take the field in both Arizona and Florida to prepare for their upcoming seasons. This series of Spring Training games allows teams to continue to practice and improve their skills in a game-like setting. The leagues are equally split with 15 teams each between the Cactus League, located in Arizona, and the Grapefruit League located in Florida. The Cactus League has a total of 10 stadiums shared between their 15 teams: some stadiums including Camelback Ranch-Glendale Stadium where the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers play and Surprise Stadium for the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers . As for the Grapefruit League, the stadiums are located between West Palm Beach and Dunedin some including the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches and TD Ballpark.
Spring Training games were kicked off on Feb. 20 with a matchup of the Chicago Cubs and the Dodgers in Phoenix, Ariz. The Cubs scored an impressive six runs in the third inning, setting them ahead from the beginning. The game resulted in Cubs domination with a final score of 12-4 in favor of Chicago. February had big wins for many teams with the Royals defeating the Rangers 15-6 and the Cleveland Guardians defeating the Los Angeles Angels 14-2. The Cubs lead the Cactus League with a total of 10 wins and three loses, closely followed by the Colorado Rockies with ten wins and four losses. The Atlanta Braves are currently in first place in the Grapefruit league, with seven wins and four losses.
Spring Training is not just for teams as a whole, but also gives individual athletes the chance to showcase their personal abilities for the upcoming season. Kris Bryant, Rockies third baseman, had a very notable swing in their game against the White Sox. Bryant hit a 462 foot homerun at 111.8 mph which is the fastest he has swung in a game since his 2021 season. Additionally, this was one of Bryant’s top three swings of his MLB career, displaying his growth as an athlete since his start in 2015 when he won Rookie of the Year. Jac Caglianone has also been another standout player during this year’s Spring Training. The 22 year old first baseman was the Royal’s sixth overall pick in the 2024 draft and is continuing to prove how he is an asset to Kansas City. In their game on Feb. 23, Caglianone hit a 435 foot home run at 115.4 mph during his first ever appearance in the MLB Spring Training. This swing is the third hardest home run from a Royals player during the preseason since 2015.
Within recent years, attending Spring Training games has become a more popular sports event for fans. The chance for spectators to enjoy the weather and the competitive atmosphere at a cheaper price makes the games appealing to a greater audience. The series of games has proven to be a success for both the players’ training and for the fans to enjoy baseball during the offseason. With opening day just around the corner, on March 27, players will take the field in hopes that their exciting play from the preseason will transfer over, leading to their team’s success during the regular season.
