TAMPA, Fla. — It's time for pitchers and catchers to report!

And with COVID and labor strife now in the past, Major League Baseball is set to have a full Grapefruit League spring season for the first time since 2019. 

But players and fans can expect change this year, and plenty of it.

What You Need To Know

The 2020, 2021 and 2022 Florida Spring Training schedules were all cut short for a variety of reasons – notably the pandemic and a lockout last season.

Now, all 15 Grapefruit League teams are set begin the 2023 season. But there are some changes on tap this year.

Opening Day on March 30 will feature three of the biggest changes since the pitcher's mound was lowered for the 1969 season:

  • Two infielders will be required on either side of second base and all infielders must be within the outer boundary of the infield when the pitcher is on the rubber.
  • Base size will increase to 18-inch squares from 15 inches, causing a decreased distance of 4 1/2 inches.
  • A pitch clock will be used, set at 15 seconds with no runners on base and 20 seconds with runners.

“This has been an eight-year effort for us,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday, thinking back to when the first experiments were formulated. “I hope we get what our fans want — faster, more action, more athleticism.”

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC

Twenty teams from across the globe are competing this spring in the World Baseball Classic.

The tournament is taking place March 8-21 with games being played in Asia, as well as Arizona and Florida. Opening rounds games, quarterfinals, semifinals and the championship are set for Miami.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays have shifted this year’s Spring home to Orlando.    

With Charlotte Sports Park damaged due to Hurricane Ian, the team plans on opening spring at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Team officials said there was not enough time to get the park in “suitable condition” to host games.

Pitchers and catchers start reporting this week. The Rays will operate their big league camp at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from then until March 1.

The Rays will move operations from Disney to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg at the beginning of March for the rest of Spring Training.

The first game set for Friday, Feb. 24 at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers (Northeastern Univ. vs. Boston Red Sox).

Opening Day is March 30.

2023 Florida Grapefruit League Teams and Locations

Atlanta Braves – CoolToday Park, North Port

Baltimore Orioles – Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota

Boston Red Sox – JetBlue Park, Fort Myers

Detroit Tigers – Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland

Houston Astros – Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach

Miami Marlins – Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter

Minnesota Twins – Hammond Stadium at the Lee County Sports Complex, Fort Myers

New York Mets – Clover Park, Port St. Lucie

New York Yankees – George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa

Pittsburgh Pirates – LECOM Park, Bradenton

Philadelphia Phillies – BayCare Ballpark, Clearwater

St. Louis Cardinals – Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter

Tampa Bay Rays – Tropicana Field, for 2023 season only, due to hurricane damage to Charlotte Sports Park.

Toronto Blue Jays – TD Ballpark, Dunedin

Washington Nationals – Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach

SPRING TRAINING STADIUMS