Everything you need to know about spring training

For about as long as professional baseball has been around, spring training has been a part of America’s pastime.

With the official start to Major League Baseball one month away, here’s all you need to know about the sport’s preseason ritual.

When is spring training?

Before opening day March 26, MLB’s spring training will take place from mid-February through late March. Each team participates in practices and exhibition games to prep for regular-season play. Spring training also gives new players the opportunity to try out for open positions on the roster.

Pitchers and catchers report to spring training before the rest of the team. This year most of the 30 MLB teams welcomed pitchers and catchers Feb. 12. Position players arrived Feb. 17-18 throughout the league.  

Where is spring training?

Of the 30 major league clubs, 15 call Florida home during spring training. These 15 teams comprise the Grapefruit League, as it’s been called since the early 1900s.

The other half of MLB teams reside in Arizona during spring training and play in the Cactus League.

Most teams in the Grapefruit League have their own home stadiums, though the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals share FITTEAM Ballpark of The Palm Beaches, and the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals split Roger Dean Stadium.

In the Cactus League, it is far more common for teams to share home stadiums.

Who is in the Grapefruit League?

Who is in the Cactus League?

How many games are played during spring training?

Each major league team competes in roughly 33 exhibition games.

Do spring training games count?

Just like the NFL preseason, major league exhibition games have no bearing on a team’s regular-season or postseason standing. Stats are recorded during spring training but are considered unofficial and used more as a tool for coaching personnel to make roster decisions.

What is a split squad in spring training?

During spring training, a team may split into two smaller clubs in order to play one home game and one road game on the same day. You may see the symbol SS on the schedule to indicate a split-squad matchup.

For example, on Feb. 22, the Los Angeles Angels will divide their team, so one group can play the White Sox on the road, while the other group hosts the Royals around the same time.

Can you bet on Spring Training?

BetAmerica will offer spring training markets during exhibition games. You can bet the moneyline (outright winner of a game), the run line (essentially a spread bet on baseball), and the Over/Under, in which you wager on the total runs scored in a matchup.

Where can you watch spring training on TV?

Many spring training games will be available on live stream. Stations local to individual teams will also carry some games on television.

Check out all the MLB markets at BetAmerica!