Important Dates

In the aftermath of the “storm that wasn’t", I sit and ponder the impending season. My new Baseball America Prospect Handbook arrived the other day and the overplayed news story about the Red Sox equipment truck leaving Fenway for Fort Myers is mere days away. So to prep for what's ahead, here are some upcoming dates that you may find helpful:

February 17-18 – Pitchers and catchers begin reporting to Spring Training
Tuesday, March 2 – Mandatory Spring Training reporting date for all players
Sunday, April 4 – MLB Opening Day – Yankees vs. Red Sox, Fenway Park
Thursday, April 8: Season Openers
• Pawtucket Red Sox vs. Rochester Red Wings, McCoy Stadium, Pawtucket, RI
• New Britain Rock Cats vs. Manchester Fisher Cats, New Britain Stadium, New Britain, CT
• Portland Sea Dogs vs. Reading Phillies, FirstEnergy Stadium, Reading, PA
June 7-9 – First year player draft
Friday, June 18: Season Openers
• Lowell Spinners vs. Vermont Lake Monsters, Centennial Field, Burlington, VT
• Connecticut Tigers vs. Tri-City ValleyCats, Joe Bruno Stadium, Troy, NY
Wednesday, July 14 - AAA All-Star Game (International League vs. Pacific Coast League), Coca-Cola Park, Allentown, PA
Wednesday, July 14 – Eastern League All-Star Game, Metro Bank Park, Harrisburg, PA
Tuesday, August 17 – New York-Penn League All-Star Game, Richmond County Bank Ballpark, Staten Island, NY

These dates will give us something to look forward to for now. We will cross the playoff bridge when we get to it. In the meantime, if you are a pitcher or catcher, start oiling up the glove because you have 6 days to go!