Arizona is the Spring Training destination for 15 Major League Baseball teams, fully half of all clubs.
Among these are the following National League teams: Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants.
Those clubs are joined in the desert each spring by these American League franchises: Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers.
Here are some details about each team’s home away from home in the Cactus League.
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks hold their Spring Training at the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Stadium, which is near Scottsdale, Arizona. The team first held their spring training at the facility in 2011.
Chicago Cubs
Since February of 2014, the Chicago Cubs have held their Spring Training camp at Sloan Park. The baseball park, which was opened that same year, is located in Mesa, Arizona.
Chicago White Sox
The ChiSox train at the Camelback Ranch–Glendale stadium, which is located in the capital city of Arizona — Phoenix. The team first held its Spring Training there in 2009, sharing space with other teams, like Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cincinnati Reds
Since 2010, the Cincinnati Reds have held spring camp at Goodyear Ballpark in (surprise!) Goodyear, AZ.
Cleveland Indians
Like the Reds, the Indians play spring games at Goodyear ballpark, having taken up residence there starting with the 2009 camp.
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies’ Spring Training venue is Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, their preseason home in Scottsdale, Arizona, since 2011.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals’ spring home is Surprise Stadium, where they have flocked for training camp each year since 2003.
Los Angeles Angels
The Angels hunker down each spring in Tempe Diablo Stadium, one of the most substantial venues in the Cactus League, with a 10,000-seat capacity. The Angels have called Tempe their early home since 1992.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Just like the Chicago White Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers hold spring camp at the Camelback Ranch–Glendale Stadium in Phoenix. The team has been holding their Spring training there since 2009, immediately after the opening of the stadium.
It’s become their prep ground as they get ready to unfurl each new season at Dodger Stadium.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brew Crew holds its Spring Training at the American Family Fields of Phoenix, where they took up residence in 1998, the same year the park opened.
Oakland Athletics
The Athletics train at the Hohokam Stadium during spring. The stadium, which is located in Mesa, has been Oakland’s Spring Training grounds since 2015.
San Diego Padres
Since 1994, the San Diego Padres have spent their spring camps at the Peoria Sports Complex, located in Peoria, Arizona.
San Franscisco Giants
Scottsdale Stadium, located in Scottsdale, Arizona, has been the San Francisco Giants’ Spring Training base since 1994.
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are another MLB team who uses the Peoria Sports Complex as their Spring Training ground. Just like the Padres, the Mariners have been using this venue since 1994.
Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers hold their spring baseball training at the Surprise Stadium, which lies in Surprise(!), Arizona. The Rangers have been using the 10,714-seat stadium since 2002, when it opened.
Final Thoughts
With half of MLB teams making their way to the desert each February, the Cactus League has come a long way since its beginnings in 1936. Will Arizona eventually lure even more big league teams away from Florida?
Only time will tell, but The Grand Canyon State has already established itself as a must-see baseball stop each spring for thousands of diehard fans.
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