URGENT UPDATE: Major League Baseball (MLB) has just announced that the highly anticipated spring training season will kick off on February 20, 2024, featuring a lineup of seven thrilling games. Fans can expect a showdown between the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, Florida, alongside a much-anticipated clash between the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox at Mesa, Arizona.
This announcement, made on Wednesday, has sent excitement rippling through the baseball community. The initial day will also showcase games involving the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres facing the Seattle Mariners, and Kansas City Royals competing against the Texas Rangers. Additionally, college teams will be represented, with the Boston Red Sox taking on Northeastern University and the Minnesota Twins playing against the University of Minnesota.
The excitement doesn’t stop there! The reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers will begin their spring training on February 21, facing the Los Angeles Angels in Tempe, Arizona. As part of the spring training festivities, MLB teams will engage in games against national teams in preparation for the World Baseball Classic. Notably, the United States will compete against the San Francisco Giants on March 3 and the Colorado Rockies on March 4 at spring training ballparks in Scottsdale.
Mark your calendars for the Spring Breakout, a series of games featuring top prospects, scheduled from March 19-22. Notably, the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels will play in Las Vegas on March 7 and 8. The Athletics are also gearing up for their long-awaited move to Las Vegas by 2028.
As the MLB opener approaches on March 25 in San Francisco, the Yankees will prepare by playing exhibition matches against the Cubs on March 23 and 24. Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers will also face the Cubs on those same days, gearing up for their season opener on March 26 against the San Diego Padres.
Exhibition games at regular-season ballparks from March 22-24 will feature other exciting matchups, including the Freeway Series between the Dodgers and Angels, a two-game series between the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals, and competitive series involving teams like Cleveland at Arizona and Cincinnati at Milwaukee.
With spring training just around the corner, fans and players alike are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an exhilarating season ahead. Stay tuned for more updates as the countdown to opening day begins!