PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Pitchers and catchers are back, signaling another Opening Day is not too far ahead.
But first comes the state’s annual rite of spring, Major League Baseball’s Spring Training and the Grapefruit League across Florida.
The Tampa Bay Rays, who return to Tropicana Field this year for the regular season after spending last season outdoors at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, welcome players to camp on Feb. 11 with the first full squad workouts set for Feb. 17. The Rays will play their first spring training game on Feb. 21 against the Atlanta Braves in Port Charlotte.
With new ownership and a revamped roster, the new-look Rays are saying hello to a lot of new faces and will spend camp filling in lineup spots, establishing depth and finalizing their pitching staff, particularly among their relievers.
Meanwhile, 14 other teams are opening camp in the coming days across the state of Florida. (See map below). Cactus League Information
When the players are back on the field, a big focus this spring will be robotic umpires and the World Baseball Classic.
In what could be the last full season before a labor confrontation over a possible salary cap proposal, players are preparing for the Automated Ball-Strike system, giving teams a chance to appeal pitch calls by the plate umpire to so-called robot umps.
ABS was tested in 13 spring training ballparks last year, and teams won 52.2% of 1,182 challenges, which averaged 13.8 seconds. Major League Baseball’s 11-man competition committee voted in September to approve regular-season use for 2026.
🧢WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC 🧢
The World Baseball Classic is back in 2026.
Japan will try for its fourth title and second straight when players leave their clubs for the sixth edition of the tournament, to be played from March 5-17 in Houston; Miami; San Juan; Puerto Rico; and Tokyo.
Rosters on the 20 national teams include 306 players under major league and minor league contracts, including 78 All-Stars.
The tournament will begin on March 5 at the Tokyo Dome (March 4 at 10 p.m. ET in the U.S.) with Chinese Taipei and Australia playing in the first game. The other pools — located at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Daikin Park in Houston; and LoanDepot Park in Miami — will begin play on March 6.
Here are the Tampa Bay Rays players taking part in the tournament:
Here’s what you need to know before the WBC first pitch.
⚾2026 Florida Grapefruit League Team Capsules and Locations ⚾
Atlanta Braves – CoolToday Park, North Port
Baltimore Orioles – Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota
Boston Red Sox – JetBlue Park at Fenway South, 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 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 – Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte
Toronto Blue Jays – TD Ballpark, Dunedin
Washington Nationals – Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach
🏟️ SPRING TRAINING STADIUMS 🏟️
Spectrum News Staff
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