MLB Spring Training: 2024 dates, schedule, format, how to watch

The 2024 MLB season is just around the corner, which means it is time for Spring Training.

Spring Training is the month before the regular season when teams travel to either Florida or Arizona to practice and build chemistry.

The games will feature a mix of MLB players and Minor League prospects looking to make the team. However, there are some changes to this year’s Spring Training, so let’s take a look at the history, schedule, and new additions of Spring Training in 2024.

MLB Spring Training 2024 schedule

Spring Training games officially begin on February 22, 2024, as the Los Angeles Dodgers face the San Diego Padres in the first game of the year. 

All 30 MLB teams will then take the field on Feb. 24, before the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues continue over the next month, with the final day of Spring Training on March 26. 

The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays will face off in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in games on March 9 and 10. The Dodgers and Padres will also travel to Seoul, South Korea, on March 20 for a two-game set that will count toward both team's regular season records. 

See below for all the key dates you need to know during 2024 Spring Training. 

Event	Date
Cactus League starts	Feb. 22
Grapefruit League starts	Feb. 23
Dominican Republic Series	March 9-10
Seoul Series	March 20-21
Exhibition at MLB ballparks	March 24-26
Spring training ends	March 26
Opening Day	March 28

TV channel, streaming and how to watch MLB Spring Training

Traditional Cable/Satellite TV:

• Regional Sports Networks (RSNs): These channels broadcast games for teams in your local market. However, not all Spring Training games are aired on RSNs, and blackouts may apply.
• MLB Network: This channel shows a selection of Spring Training games throughout the day, but some games may be blacked out depending on your location.

Streaming Services:

• MLB.TV: This subscription service offers live broadcasts of every Spring Training game, without blackouts. You can subscribe to MLB.TV directly or through some streaming services like Amazon Prime Video (with an add-on subscription).
• Streaming services with RSN packages: Some streaming services like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV include regional sports networks in their packages, allowing you to watch games from your local teams.
• ESPN+: Occasionally, ESPN+ streams select Spring Training games, but the availability is limited.

MLB Spring Training 2024 report dates

Spring training report dates indicate the start of the MLB season, when pitchers and catchers and then position players join the team for the preseason.

Pitchers and catchers typically report to Spring Training several days before the rest of the team. 

See below for every MLB team's 2024 report dates for pitchers & catchers and position players. 

Team	Pitchers/catchers	Position players
Arizona Diamondbacks	Feb. 14	Feb. 19
Atlanta Braves	Feb. 15	Feb. 20
Baltimore Orioles	Feb. 15	Feb. 20
Boston Red Sox	Feb. 14	Feb. 19
Chicago Cubs	Feb. 14	Feb. 19
Chicago White Sox	Feb. 14	Feb. 19
Cincinnati Reds	Feb. 14	Feb. 19
Cleveland Guardians	Feb. 15	Feb. 20
Colorado Rockies	Feb. 15	Feb. 20
Detroit Tigers	Feb. 14	Feb. 19
Houston Astros	Feb. 14	Feb. 19
Kansas City Royals	Feb. 14	Feb. 19
Los Angeles Angels	Feb. 14	Feb. 19
Los Angeles Dodgers	Feb. 9	Feb. 14
Miami Marlins	Feb. 15	Feb. 20
Milwaukee Brewers	Feb. 15	Feb. 20
Minnesota Twins	Feb. 14	Feb. 18
New York Mets	Feb. 14	Feb. 19
New York Yankees	Feb. 15	Feb. 20
Oakland Athletics	Feb. 14	Feb. 19
Philadelphia Phillies	Feb. 14	Feb. 19
Pittsburgh Pirates	Feb. 14	Feb. 19
San Diego Padres	Feb. 11	Feb. 16
San Francisco Giants	Feb. 15	Feb. 20
Seattle Mariners	Feb. 15	Feb. 20
St. Louis Cardinals	Feb. 14	Feb. 19
Tampa Bay Rays	Feb. 14	Feb. 19
Texas Rangers	Feb. 14	Feb. 19
Toronto Blue Jays	Feb. 15	Feb. 20
Washington Nationals	Feb. 14	Feb. 20

MLB Spring Training leagues

There are two different leagues in Spring Training - the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues. The Grapefruit League is located in Florida and the Cactus League in Arizona, with 15 teams in each league. 

Cactus League teams, stadiums

The Cactus League is based in the Phoenix metropolitan area of Arizona, and will include the following teams in 2024. 

Team	Stadium	Location	Capacity
Chicago Cubs	Sloan Park	Mesa, AZ	15,000
Chicago White Sox	Camelback Ranch - Hohokam Stadium	Scottsdale, AZ	13,000
Cincinnati Reds	Goodyear Ballpark	Goodyear, AZ	10,200
Cleveland Guardians	Goodyear Ballpark	Goodyear, AZ	10,200
Colorado Rockies	Salt River Fields at Talking Stick	Scottsdale, AZ	11,000
Kansas City Royals	Surprise Stadium	Surprise, AZ	10,000
Los Angeles Dodgers	Camelback Ranch - Camelback Stadium	Glendale, AZ	13,000
Los Angeles Angels	Tempe Diablo Stadium	Tempe, AZ	9,000
Milwaukee Brewers	American Family Fields of Phoenix	Phoenix, AZ	10,000
Oakland Athletics	Hohokam Stadium	Mesa, AZ	12,000
San Diego Padres	Peoria Sports Complex	Peoria, AZ	10,500
Seattle Mariners	Peoria Sports Complex	Scottsdale, AZ	12,000
Texas Rangers	Surprise Stadium	Surprise, AZ	10,000
Arizona Diamondbacks	Salt River Fields at Talking Stick	Scottsdale, AZ	11,000

Grapefruit League teams, stadiums

The Grapefruit League is based in Florida, and will include the following teams in 2024.

Team	Stadium	Location	Capacity
Atlanta Braves	CoolToday Park	Venice, FL	8,100
Baltimore Orioles	Ed Smith Stadium	Sarasota, FL	15,000
Boston Red Sox	JetBlue Park	Fort Myers, FL	11,000
Detroit Tigers	Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium	Lakeland, FL	8,500
Houston Astros	Ballpark of the Palm Beaches	West Palm Beach, FL	16,000
Miami Marlins	Roger Dean Stadium	Jupiter, FL	15,000
Minnesota Twins	Hammond Stadium	Fort Myers, FL	7,500
New York Mets	Clover Park	Port St. Lucie, FL	7,161
New York Yankees	George M. Steinbrenner Field	Tampa, FL	6,200
Philadelphia Phillies	Baycare Ballpark	Clearwater, FL	8,500
Pittsburgh Pirates	LECOM Park	Bradenton, FL	8,500
St. Louis Cardinals	Roger Dean Stadium	Jupiter, FL	15,000
Tampa Bay Rays	Charlotte Sports Park	Port Charlotte, FL	7,000
Toronto Blue Jays	TD Ballpark	Dunedin, FL	5,000
Washington Nationals	Ballpark of the Palm Beaches	West Palm Beach, FL	16,000

What is MLB Spring Breakout?

The MLB announced that Spring Training would have a twist in 2024. In addition to the normal month–long schedule of games, the MLB announced there would also be a prospect showcase between March 14-17 called "Spring Breakout". 

The idea behind Spring Breakout is to give each organization's top prospects a chance to compete in the spotlight on the main field instead of the Minor League fields behind the stadium.

Spring Breakout will give fans the chance to see their organization's top prospects first-hand on a big stage. This will create a stronger connection between the fans and the Minor League players while also giving the prospects a larger spotlight to showcase their talents.

MLB Spring Training history

The history of Spring Training dates back to the 1870s. Baseball historians believe that certain teams traveled to New Orleans or Jacksonville for games ahead of the regular season. 

By 1900, it became normal for MLB teams to travel south to play games. Florida and Arizona became the hot spots for the games because of the warm weather and baseball-friendly climate.

Although Spring Training began in the early 1900s, it took about 50 years later for the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues to come to life. 

It was then decided that 15 teams would go to Florida and 15 teams would go to Arizona to give baseball fans around the country the opportunity to see plenty of their favorite players in the same area. 

Fast forward to the present day, and Spring Training has become a staple of the MLB season. 

Fans from the cold states up north look forward to traveling south to watch their favorite team play while also taking a break from the winter weather. 

Spring Training games have a much more relaxed feel compared to a regular season game, and that leads to a fun and exciting atmosphere in Florida and Arizona.