Every game feels like home at Spring Training
By Mackenzie Bruno, WEBN Correspondent
Fort Meyers, FL – The annual Spring Training games known as the “Grapefruit League” take place across 13 cities in Florida, featuring 15 different MLB baseball teams. During Spring Training, every team gets the chance to feel like the home team no matter what ballpark you attend. These games give fans the opportunity to see their home teams play while they are visiting Florida. Players get the chance to display their talents and prove themselves for a spot on an MLB roster.
“A lot of people from Minnesota and Boston don’t feel that warmth until maybe June. So, to get down here and feel it, see how happy baseball makes them, it’s a special time. The Spring Training vibes are always pretty high,” said Twins pitcher Brock Stewart. The Red Sox played against the Minnesota Twins in a home Spring Training game at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida. Minnesota played a starting lineup that featured both players on the roster and non-roster invites. Boston, however, played most of their starters in this game.
According to The Athletic, in the American League East division, “The Red Sox have the lowest projected winning percentage in the division, coming in at .504.” Despite these pre-season projections based on FanGraphs data, the first baseman for the Red Sox, Triston Casas, says that the mentality in the clubhouse is confident heading into the regular season.
“I’m really excited to see how this season goes because on paper we’re not supposed to be a really great team. But in the clubhouse, nobody believes that we’re not supposed to be a world series contender,” said Casas.
This game for the Red Sox against the Twins is a good early test to see where they might end up coming time for the playoffs in October. Last season, the Minnesota Twins took home the American League Central title, with many of their starters hurt at various points throughout the season.
Former number one overall draft pick for the Twins, Royce Lewis, came back late last season after suffering multiple ACL tears, and many fans are gearing up for him to have an impressive season.
The Red Sox finished in last place in the American League East last season with a record of 78-84. Several MLB projections have the Red Sox finishing in last once again for the 2024-2025 MLB season.
The American League East remains a difficult division to compete in, with the Orioles having an unexpectedly stellar season last year, finishing first with 101 wins. The Yankees have improved their roster, picking up outfielders Juan Soto and Trent Grisham, along with Boston’s Alex Verdugo this offseason.
In addition to Soto, the Yankees completely revamped their outfield, adding an elite defender in Trent Grisham as part of the trade with San Diego and Alex Verdugo in a swap from Boston.
The Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays finished second and third in the division last season, respectively. These two teams consistently remain competitive in the division. Despite the low expectations, the Red Sox did make improvements to their roster this offseason. The players that headline this roster include a strong outfield with players like Masataka Yoshida, Jarren Duran, Tyler O’Neill, Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela. The outfield includes promising players such as second basemen Rob Refsnyder.
The Red Sox take on the Baltimore Orioles on Opening Day at Fenway Park on April 9. Minnesota faces off against the Kansas City Royals for Opening Day on the road on March 28.