MLB Spring Training Returns To Sarasota, Bradenton After Lockout

SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL — With Major League Baseball’s 99-day lockout over, spring training will return to Florida, including Sarasota and Manatee counties, starting on Thursday, according to the Florida Grapefruit League’s website.

MLB and the Major League Baseball Players Association ratified a five-year labor agreement on Thursday, ending the three-month lockout that canceled dozens of spring training games in the state and delayed the official start to the 2022 MLB season.

Florida’s first spring training game of the season will pit the Minnesota Twins against the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park on Thursday. After that, a full schedule of games will be played in Florida over 19 days from Friday through April 6, the Grapefruit League said.

Every March, spring training is a tourism draw for Florida, which welcomes 15 MLB teams as they prepare for the upcoming season. Spring training is a longtime tradition in the state, going back more than 100 years, according to the Florida Sports Foundation. In 2019 alone, more than 1.5 million baseball fans attended spring training facilities, and $687.1 million is pumped into the state's economy each year because of these preseason games.

The Sarasota and Bradenton region boasts three MLB spring training centers — the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park near Venice and North Port, the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, and the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park in Bradenton.

Related Stories:

• Despite Spring Training Delays Tourism Up In Sarasota, Bradenton
• Play Ball: Spring Training Games Begin Friday In Tampa Bay
• New MLB Agreement Gives Rays, Marlins Full 2022 Season
• MLB Baseball Returns To Tampa Bay, Miami After 3-Month Lockout

The three teams expressed their excitement for the start of spring training on social media. The Pirates shared pictures of their players arriving at LECOM Park on Facebook, writing, “It’s like the first day of school!”

The Braves shared a picture of their Sarasota County stadium on the team’s Facebook page on Monday.

Meanwhile, on Instagram, the Orioles shared a short video from Ed Smith Stadium on Monday, writing, “Good morning from Sarasota, Florida.”

All three local teams have also released their full spring training schedule:

Baltimore Orioles (Ed Smith Stadium, 2700 12th Street, Sarasota)

• March 18: Toronto Blue Jays (Home)
• March 19: New York Yankees (Home)
• March 20: Boston Red Sox (Away)
• March 21: Minnesota Twins (Home)
• March 22: Pittsburgh Pirates (Away)
• March 23: New York Yankees (Away)
• March 24: Boston Red Sox (Home)
• March 25: Tampa Bay Rays (Away)
• March 26: Pittsburgh Pirates (Home)
• March 27: Detroit Tigers (Home)
• March 28: Philadelphia Phillies (Away)
• March 30: Tampa Bay Rays (Home)
• March 31: Pittsburgh Pirates (Away)
• April 1: Philadelphia Phillies (Home)
• April 2: Detroit Tigers (Away)
• April 3: Minnesota Twins (Away)
• April 4: Pittsburgh Pirates (Home)
• April 5: Toronto Blue Jays (Away)
• April 6: Detroit Tigers (Away)

Atlanta Braves (CoolToday Park, 18800 W Villages Pkwy, Venice)

• March 18: Minnesota Twins (Home)
• March 19: Tampa Bay Rays (Away)
• March 20: Philadelphia Phillies (Home)
• March 21: Boston Red Sox (Away)
• March 22: Minnesota Twins (Away)
• March 23: Tampa Bay Rays (Home)
• March 24: Toronto Blue Jays (Away)
• March 25: Boston Red Sox (Home)
• March 26: Minnesota Twins (Home)
• March 27: Tampa Bay Rays (Away)
• March 28: Toronto Blue Jays (Home)
• March 30: Boston Red Sox (Away)
• March 31: Tampa Bay Rays (Home)
• April 1: Minnesota Twins (Away)
• April 2: New York Yankees (Away)
• April 3: Boston Red Sox (Home)
• April 4: Tampa Bay Rays (Away)
• April 5: Tampa Bay Rays (Home)

Pittsburgh Pirates (LECOM Park, 1611 9th Street W, Bradenton)

• March 18: New York Yankees (Home)
• March 19: Detroit Tigers (Home)
• March 20: Toronto Blue Jays (Away)
• March 21: Tampa Bay Rays (Away)
• March 22: Baltimore Orioles (Home)
• March 23: Detroit Tigers (Away)
• March 24: Philadelphia Phillies (Home)
• March 25: Minnesota Twins (Home)
• March 26: Baltimore Orioles (Away)
• March 27: New York Yankees (Away)
• March 29: Boston Red Sox (Home)
• March 30: Minnesota Twins (Away)
• March 31: Baltimore Orioles (Home)
• April 1: Toronto Blue Jays (Home)
• April 2: Boston Red Sox (Away)
• April 3: Tampa Bay Rays (Home)
• April 4: Baltimore Orioles (Away)
• April 5: Philadelphia Phillies (Away)