Pitchers and Catchers Report – 2025
“The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money.” ~ Ernie Banks
How I love these four magic words, “Pitchers and Catchers Report”. Does it get any better than that? I think not.
I’m writing this on Saturday afternoon in Lockport, Illinois (published Sunday). It is currently 33 degrees with a “wind chill” that makes it feel like 27 degrees. There is a “Winter Weather Advisory” in effect until 6p. It should be expected; it’s February in the Midwest. But I also know that once the Chicago Cubs pitchers and catchers take the field at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona on Sunday a chain of events begins, and nothing can stop them. Baseball will be BACK.
The 9th of February is a little earlier than reporting normally would start, but the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers will play a two-game series to open the 2025 MLB season with the “Tokyo Series”, at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. (Not a fan of these type “starts”). The games are scheduled for Tuesday, March 18th, and Wednesday, the 19th, afterwards the teams will travel back to Arizona to finish their camps; so, these two teams are beginning their spring training early. Then 28 of the 30 teams will open their regular season on Thursday, March 27th, and with that, the joyous journey of the 162-game season unfolds.
Now, I am fully aware there is “some football game” on Sunday. It’s being over-hyped because the Kansas City Chiefs have the opportunity to win three Super Bowls in a row. Three Super Bowls have never been won consecutively before. However, the Green Bay Packers won three straight NFL Championships twice in their history; 1929-1931 and again 1965-1967, the second run included the first two “Super Bowls” as well. I wish this feat was mentioned a bit more. Let’s face it, they may play more regular season games and more playoff games, but you can’t breathe around Patrick Mahomes without drawing a 15-yard penalty, the old game was a more physical game without a doubt, so I consider the Packer runs a harder feat. But I also know, money and betting is king and hype is the norm, half-time shows are overdone, the commercial costs are obscene. I probably won’t be watching; it will be a game-time decision so to speak. February 9th, baseball begins!
The reporting schedule looks like this.
Arizona Cactus League:
Arizona Diamondbacks:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Monday, February 17th
Athletics:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Monday, February 17th
(Their home games will be in West Sacramento, California, but they are officially just the Athletics until they move to Las Vegas for the 2028 season. John Fisher, the owner, is not very popular in the Bay Area right now and deservedly so.)
Chicago Cubs:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Sunday, February 9th
Position players report date: Friday, February 14th
Chicago White Sox:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Monday, February 17th
Cincinnati Reds:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Monday, February 17th
Cleveland Guardians:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 13th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 18th
Colorado Rockies:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 13th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 18th
Kansas City Royals:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Monday, February 17th
Los Angeles Angels:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Monday, February 17th
Los Angeles Dodgers:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Tuesday, February 11th
Position players report date: Saturday, February 15th
Milwaukee Brewers:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 13th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 18th
San Diego Padres:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Monday, February 17th
San Francisco Giants:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Monday, February17th
Seattle Mariners:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 13th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 18th
Texas Rangers:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Monday, February 17th
Florida Grapefruit League:
Atlanta Braves:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 18th
Baltimore Orioles:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 13th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 18th
Boston Red Sox:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Monday, February 17th
Detroit Tigers:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Monday, February 17th
Houston Astros:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 13th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 18th
Miami Marlins:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Monday, February 17th
Minnesota Twins:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 13th
Position players report date: Monday, February 17th
New York Mets:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Monday, February 17th
New York Yankees:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Monday, February 17th
Philadelphia Phillies:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Monday, February 17th
Pittsburgh Pirates:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Monday, February 17th
Saint Louis Cardinals:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Monday, February 17th
Tampa Bay Rays:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Tuesday, February 11th
Position players report date: Sunday, February 16th
Toronto Blue Jays:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Thursday, February 13th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 18th
Washington Nationals:
Pitchers and catchers report day: Wednesday, February 12th
Position players report date: Tuesday, February 18th
Most players report in phenomenal shape as they train their bodies year-round, but they still need to go through the “rites of spring”. Fielding, throwing, hitting, baserunning, covering bases, relays, backups, interacting with each other, just preparing. And we, the fans, need this “rite” as well. We need to let the warmth of the reporting of baseball enter our minds again. We need to hear, see, and let baseball come alive again. We need to experience the magic which will occur.
There is no doubt in my mind that there are still single-digit temperatures, wind chills, and snow in my near future. Spring in the Midwest is a few weeks off yet, that’s a reality. But my heart is warmed, my enthusiasm high, my anticipation has peaked, and all is right in my world. Baseball Spring Training will begin.
Spring is the time that the weather gets warmer, we gradually have more daylight, flowers bloom, the grass grows, and life begins again. Spring is also the time that baseball begins. A coincidence, not in my mind.
Enjoy…
~ Coach Mike
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The call to return to Spring Training is a very welcome thrill! It means we will soon be enjoying not only warm weather soon, but that we will be enjoying the favorite pass time of America! Hurray for Spring Training and the upcoming new baseball season!
Thank you for your continued posts and keeping us entertained!