What to know about A's Spring Training

The official start of Spring Training for the A’s marks the beginning of what they hope will be a big step forward in a rebuilding process that got underway last spring.

Oakland entered a new direction in 2022 with the hiring of first-year manager Mark Kotsay and a deconstruction of a core that had established a successful run of baseball in recent seasons. While the result was a painful 60-102 record -- only the second 100-loss season in Oakland history and first since 1979 -- signals of a brighter future were present with the Major League arrivals of prospects such as Shea Langeliers, Jordan Diaz and Ken Waldichuk near the end of the season, all of whom will be joined by more fellow top prospects in big league camp.

Here are some frequently asked questions that A’s fans might have for 2023 Spring Training:

When is the first workout for pitchers and catchers?
A’s pitchers and catchers will have their first workout on Feb. 15.

What is the date of the first full-squad workout?
The first full-squad workout for all A’s players is scheduled for Feb. 20.

Where is the team’s facility?
Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Ariz., is the Spring Training home ballpark for the A’s. Workouts take place at Fitch Park (651 N Center St.), which is just a few blocks south of Hohokam Stadium.

Can fans attend workouts?
Prior to the A’s first Cactus League game, fans can attend workouts at Fitch Park. Workouts typically begin shortly after 9 a.m. MST and run for several hours.

Who are some new faces fans should know?
Notable newcomers to the A’s include slugger Jesús Aguilar, infielders Jace Peterson and Aledmys Díaz and right-handers Drew Rucinski and Shintaro Fujinami. The club also acquired top prospects Esteury Ruiz and Kyle Muller in a three-team deal with the Braves and Brewers back in December.

Who are some of the top prospects invited to Major League camp?
Of MLB Pipeline's list of the A's Top 30 Prospects, 16 will join Oakland in big league camp. Top overall prospect Tyler Soderstrom and No. 3 prospect Zack Gelof, both of whom finished last season with a promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas and are considered close to Major League-ready, will get a chance to perform in front of the big league staff. Waldichuk and Jordan Diaz will come into camp competing for spots on the Opening Day roster.

Which players will be participating in the World Baseball Classic?
Jordan Diaz is listed on the preliminary roster for Team Colombia, while Gelof is on Team Israel’s preliminary roster and outfielder Denzel Clarke is on Team Canada’s. On the pitching side, right-hander Adrián Martínez is included on Team Mexico’s preliminary 50-man roster. Final 30-man rosters will be released on Feb. 7, then tournament play starts March 8.

When is the team’s first Cactus League game?
The A’s open up Cactus League play on Feb. 25, against the D-backs at Hohokam Stadium at 1:05 p.m. MST.

What are a few other notable spring games?
As part of Big League Weekend, an A’s split squad will play two Cactus League games against the Reds on March 3-4 at Las Vegas Ballpark, home of the Las Vegas Aviators, which is Oakland’s Triple-A affiliate.

Will the team’s games be televised?
A schedule of televised games for Spring Training has not yet been announced. A’s Spring Training games will be broadcast on Bloomberg 960 AM and streamed on A's Cast through iHeart and athletics.com.

When is the club’s last game in Arizona?
The A’s final game in Arizona is on March 25, against the Brewers at Hohokam Stadium, at 12:05 p.m. MST.

Will there be any additional exhibitions before the regular season?
The A's close out Spring Training with a return to the Bay Area to take part in the annual preseason Bay Bridge Series with the Giants. Exhibition games are scheduled for March 26 (1:07 p.m. PT, at Oakland Coliseum) and March 27 (6:45 p.m. PT, at Oracle Park).

What are the details for Opening Day?
The A's open their season on March 30, against the Angels at the Oakland Coliseum, with first pitch set for 7:07 p.m. PT.