Spring training is about to begin for the Boston Red Sox. Here’s a list of key dates to keep track of when players report to camp.
It’s time to put a brutal offseason behind us. The Boston Red Sox are heading to Fort Myers to get ready for spring training in preparation for the upcoming season.
The atmosphere will be a bit out of the ordinary at Jet Blue Park this spring. We expect Ron Roenicke to be named as the new manager but the Red Sox might very well open camp before making if official. The face of the franchise was traded away, essentially waiving the white flag on the 2020 season before it begins. This is unfamiliar territory for an organization that is expected to be contend a playoff spot every year.
Ownership sided with financial flexibility over the talent on the field but the players who remain with the team still intend to compete. Everyone has a reason for putting in the effort, whether it be playing for a new contract, earning a spot on the roster or simply for pride. There will be young prospects to watch and position battles to monitor. It’s time to move on from the offseason drama. It’s time for baseball.
With that in mind, here are the key dates to look forward to this spring.
Players Report
Pitchers and catchers are expected to report by Tuesday, February 11, with their first full workout scheduled for the following day.
The remaining positions players must report by Sunday, February 16. The first full squad workout will be a week from today.
Players aren’t mandated to be in camp yet but several of them have already started trickling in to Fort Myers.
Good morning from the Fort. Quite a few players arrived over the weekend, Christian Vazquez among them. pic.twitter.com/7trVnWUXMj
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) February 10, 2020
Spring Training schedule
The Red Sox open the exhibition season on Friday, February 21 with their annual meeting with the Northeastern Huskies.
Grapefruit League action kicks off on Saturday, February 22 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Red Sox will play 34 games in addition to the warm-up against college players that proceeds the Grapefruit League schedule. That includes three split squad dates (February 24, March 7, March 20) where half the team plays in one game while the other half faces a different opponent that day.
Opening Day
The Red Sox open the season with a four-game set against the Blue Jays in Toronto beginning on Thursday, March 26.
That series will be followed by three games in Baltimore before the Red Sox return to Fenway Park for their Home Opener on Thursday, April 2 against the Chicago White Sox.
Many fans are angry about the direction the Red Sox pivoted in this winter but there’s still plenty of reasons to get excited about the upcoming season. This roster is still loaded with talent that can compete against anyone. Are they the favorites to win the World Series? Are they a lock to make the postseason? No, but they won’t toil away at the bottom of the standings either. This is still a team capable of posting a winning record and staying in the hunt for a Wild Card spot.
Even if the team comes up short in their quest for the playoffs, we still have a collection of exciting stars to watch. Not every franchise can say that. If you can’t find any joy in watching Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers crank out extra-base hits or seeing Chris Sale embarrass hitters with his wipe-out slider then sorry, you’re not much of a baseball fan.