What to know about Blue Jays Spring Training

TORONTO -- The long wait is almost over as the Blue Jays begin their long road to redemption after a heartbreaking end to the 2022 season.

Optimism has been reborn, though, following a busy offseason to support one of baseball’s most talented young cores. This camp won’t feature many roster battles for the Blue Jays, but it will offer an important look at how all of their new pieces -- and new styles of players -- fit together.

This spring will also feature a World Baseball Classic for the first time since 2017, so some of Toronto’s younger players could have a chance to shine while the established stars are away playing for their countries. Here’s what you need to know leading up to camp:

When is the first workout for pitchers and catchers?
The WBC will spread these dates out a bit, with any pitchers and catchers participating in the WBC reporting early on Feb. 13. The rest will hold their first full workout on Feb. 16, but many players are already in the area and training at the facility.

What is the date of the first full-squad workout?
Position players headed to the WBC will be in camp by Feb. 16, but the first official full squad workout comes on Feb. 21.

Where is the team’s facility?
Toronto’s split facility features the new player development complex on Solon Ave in Dunedin, Fla., nestled into a residential area that the Blue Jays have called home since their inception in 1977. TD Ballpark, home to their Single-A affiliate and all Spring Training home games, is located across town.

Most of the Blue Jays’ workouts will take place at the complex, but on days of home games, some players will choose to hit or take ground balls at TD Ballpark prior to the game.

Can fans attend workouts?
The Blue Jays are re-opening their Player Development Complex to fans for the first time since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning Feb. 19 through to Feb. 24. The complex will be open from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. local time, with free access on a first-come, first-served basis. The club’s Minor League camp will also be open to fans from March 6 to April 1, will full details on access available here.

Who are some new faces fans should know?
Gone are fan favorites Teoscar Hernández and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., replaced by outfielders Daulton Varsho and Kevin Kiermaier over the winter. Kiermaier should be a familiar name after his decade of defensive excellence for the Rays, while Varsho came over in a major trade and has some elite defensive upside of his own.

On the mound, the Blue Jays rounded out their rotation with veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt, who should slide in as the No. 3 behind Kevin Gausman and Alek Manoah. The bullpen has improved, too, with Erik Swanson coming over from the Mariners in the Hernández trade and Chad Green recently signing a two-year deal.

Who are some of the top prospects invited to Major League camp?
Yosver Zulueta, the hard-throwing righty vying for his MLB debut, and Addison Barger, the infielder who earned a spot on the 40-man roster with a great 2022 season, are a pair of standouts. There’s also Orelvis Martinez, Otto Lopez and others already on the 40-man.

The non-roster invitees include Sem Robberse, Hayden Juenger and Adrian Hernandez, but No. 1 prospect Ricky Tiedemann is the name to watch. The No. 33 prospect in Major League Baseball is still just 20 years old, but he dominated in 2022, topping out at Double-A. Can he do what Manoah did in the spring of ’21 and move up his timeline?

Which players will be participating in the World Baseball Classic?
The Blue Jays will be well represented at the WBC, headlined by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the stacked Dominican Republic roster. The club’s full list of WBC participants will be announced soon.

When is the team’s first Grapefruit League game?
Toronto opens Grapefruit League play on Saturday, Feb. 25, against the Pirates in Bradenton, Fla. That’s close to a one-hour drive south from Dunedin, but the Blue Jays hold their home opener the very next day against a split-squad Yankees.

What are a few other notable spring games?
There will be a pair of evening games to break up the long strings of early afternoon starts. First, the Blue Jays will travel to Tampa to face the Yankees at 6:35 p.m. ET on March 14. Then they will host the Phillies at 6:07 p.m. ET on March 24.

Will the team’s games be televised?
Sportsnet announced this week that all 16 of the Blue Jays home games this spring will be broadcast on their channels and streaming service, SN NOW. They’ll also be airing a select group of road games, which will be announced at a later date. The first broadcast will be the home opener at 1 p.m. ET on Feb. 26 against the Yankees. All 30 games will have a radio broadcast from Sportsnet 590 The FAN, as well via a live audio stream, with Ben Wagner on the mic.

When is the club’s last game in Florida?
The Blue Jays finish camp on March 28 with a road game against the nearby Phillies. They’ll enjoy one off-day, then begin the regular season on March 30 against the Cardinals in St. Louis.

Will there be any additional exhibitions before the regular season?
The Blue Jays won’t be playing any exhibition games outside of MLB opponents this spring, but some WBC clubs will face MLB clubs prior to the tournament as a warm-up.

What are the details for Opening Day?
Toronto opens the regular season at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on March 30, with first pitch scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET. After a scheduled off-day on March 31, the Blue Jays pick the three-game series back up with afternoon games on April 1 and 2 before flying to Kansas City.