As soon as the final whistle of the Super Bowl echoes through the stadium, avid sports enthusiasts proactively shift their focus towards the forthcoming baseball season. Like a well-rehearsed play, the training phase begins shortly thereafter, with pitchers and catchers returning to their respective spring training grounds in the sunny locales of Florida and Arizona.
Leading the charge into the new season is the baseball team from the Windy City, the Chicago Cubs. They will be the pioneers to kickstart their warm-ups at their training ground in Mesa, Arizona, welcoming their pitchers and catchers on February 9.
A noteworthy mention is that the initial rhythmic drills and tactical preparations of the Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers, scheduled for February 11 at their base in Glendale, Arizona, are a few days ahead of their MLB counterparts. There’s a unique excitement and anticipation surrounding them due to their international season opener in Tokyo, marking the start of the MLB 2025 calendar on March 18 and 19.
Among the teams getting into gear amidst the Arizona sun in the Cactus League are the Arizona Diamondbacks and The Athletics, starting their preparations on February 12 and 17 respectively. The other Chicago team, the White Sox, along with Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and Texas Rangers among others, are also setting their wheels in motion with their spring training around the same time.
The Florida-based Grapefruit League, conversely, will welcome the Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, Boston Red Sox, among others, on February 12, followed by their secondary training phase on February 17. A few teams like the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Minnesota Twins, and the feisty Toronto Blue Jays, are slated to start a day later.
Journeying a day earlier than most of their Grapefruit League counterparts, the Tampa Bay Rays will commence their journey on February 11, followed by the secondary round on February 16.
A significant highlight of the preseason schedule is the spring training exhibition match between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers on February 20. This game, at the Dodgers’ home ground in Glendale, Arizona, marks the commencement of the high-energy battles that lie ahead.
The encore follows immediately after, with the Cubs and Dodgers squaring off once again on February 21. This time, the stage moves to the Cubs’ home base in the heart of Mesa, Arizona, setting the scene for an exciting rematch.
Besides this, the February 21 schedule also includes five additional matches, paving the way for an action-packed day of baseball.
Over on the east coast, the inaugural match of the Grapefruit League is poised to be an exciting contest. It features the illustrative New York Yankees playing host to the Tampa Bay Rays on their home turf.
Interestingly, the season games for the Tampa Bay Rays will take place at the same location, George Steinbrenner Field. Even when the preseason training ends, the Rays will continue to familiarize themselves with each intricacy of this field, potentially turning it into a stronghold.
This peculiar setting for the Rays’ local games arises from the destruction caused by Hurricane Milton in October last year, which left their home stadium, the Tropicana Field located in St. Petersburg, massively damaged.
Irrespective of the circumstances, the start of the baseball season post the Super Bowl creates an exciting prospect for fans and sports enthusiasts alike. The strategic planning, rigorous preparation, and the thrill of the exhibition matches truly signify that a new chapter of America’s pastime is about to unfold.