PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Welcome to Spring Training 2024.
Not to be confused with 2023.
A year after experimentation was the buzz word and there was a slow exit from COVID, Spring Training baseball can expect relative calm this February and March.
Pitchers and catchers are reporting for most teams (Feb. 14-15), while the Dodgers (Feb. 9) and Padres (Feb. 11) are already in camp.
Pitch clocks, larger bases and a ban of defensive shifts will be back – albeit with some tweaks.
The clock with runners on base will drop to 18 seconds from 20. Pitchers will still have 15 seconds to throw a pitch with no one on base.
Other tweaks include a wider run lane to first base and one less (4) mound visit per game.
Also, there is no World Baseball Classic this spring.
Team workouts start Feb. 18 across the league. Cactus League games start Feb. 22 with the Dodgers and Padres squaring off, followed by the Grapefruit League starting Feb. 24.
Rays' pitchers and catchers report Feb. 14 with their first spring game scheduled for Feb. 24.
Opening Day is March 28.
Rays are back at their Spring home
Speaking of the Rays, Tampa Bay will return to Port Charlotte for spring training in 2024 after relocating last year because of extensive damage their team training facilities suffered during Hurricane Ian.
The Rays have trained since 2009 at Charlotte Sports Park, which is about 80 miles south of their regular-season home of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
Tampa Bay used the former Atlanta Braves' complex at the ESPN Wide World of Sports facility in Kissimmee in 2023 for early workouts and one game against the New York Yankees before playing the rest of its home spring training games at Tropicana Field.
The Rays will play 13 home exhibition games starting Feb. 24 against Atlanta, with their final matchup at the domed stadium on March 26 against Detroit.
Tampa Bay also will play two games in the Dominican Republic against Boston on March 9-10. It will be the Rays' first trip there.
The Rays are hosting Fan Fest Saturday, Feb. 17 at Tropicana Field from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Fan Fest is a free event but all attendees must claim a ticket using the Ballpark App.
What will the Rays look like in 2024?
Don’t expect the Rays team that shows up for Spring Training to be the same one we last saw swept out of the wildcard playoffs in October by Texas, the eventual World Series champions.
Tampa Bay could muster one run en route to being outscored 11-1 by the Rangers in two games.
As the Rays try to retool and reach the postseason for the sixth straight season, they will be without two big arms from last season, Shame McClanahan (out for season with Tommy John surgery) and Tyler Glasnow (traded to Dodgers).
The rotation will include arms from last year Zach Eflin, Aaron Civale, Zack Littell and Taj Bradley, along with Ryan Pepiot, who came over from Los Angeles in the Glasnow trade.
Shane Baz will likely be back from his own Tommy John surgery while Pete Fairbanks, Jason Adam and Colin Poche will all see innings.
Meanwhile, Japanese signee Naoyuki Uwasawa could impress.
While shortstop Wander Franco remains in limbo due to his legal issues, the Rays infield remains somewhat intact. Yandy Diaz (1B), Brandon Lowe (2B) and Isaac Paredes (3B) are back with Jose Caballero maintaining short. Tyler Walls, returning from hip surgery, as well as Osleivis Basabe and Junior Caminero should see playing time as well.
Fan favorite Randy Arozarena anchors the outfield, which will also feature Jose Siri, Josh Lowe, Jonny DeLuca. Harold Ramirez will DH while Rene Pinto will be the everyday catcher.
Paredes had a team-high 31 homers and 98 RBIs last season while Diaz, Brandon Lowe, Arozarenam Siri and Josh Lowe all hit 20-plus home runs.
Prospects Spotlight
Major League Baseball will attempt to feature top prospects during a spring training event from March 14-17 called “Spring Breakout.”
Each big league organization will field a team of 20-25 prospects from all levels in seven-inning games.
Twenty-eight organizations will play one game and one organization each in Florida and Arizona will play two games. Twelve games will be part of doubleheaders with big league spring training games.
The games, announced Wednesday, will include whatever experimental rules used in the minor leagues.
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