Spring Training Behind The Scenes

My thoughts and impressions from my first minor league Spring Training

Now that my first minor league Spring Training is over, I’m going to tell you exactly what it’s like.

My first Spring Training was a surreal experience, since I was finally getting to live out my dream of being a professional baseball player.

But what’s even cooler is that this was just the prep for the actual season which goes from April to September.

For those of you who don’t know how it works, each team essentially has two spring training camps running at once:

One for the major league club and one for the minor leaguers.

The major league camp plays all the Spring Training games you see on TV.

Minor league camp on the other hand all happens behind the scenes. It’s where we train and compete to work towards the big club someday.

Spring training is kind of like working a 9-5 but you’re playing baseball.

Contents:

1. Typical Spring Training Schedule/Day In The Life

2. Spring Training Games

3. Biggest Takeaways From My First Spring Training

4. Best Advice I Received

5. Thoughts Heading Into The Season

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Here’s what a typical day in the life looks like for a minor league pitcher in Spring Training:

7-7:30 AM: Wake up

7:45 AM: Arrive at the complex. Eat breakfast.

8 AM: Get dressed. Prepare for training for the day. This includes any type of stretching, prep work, treatment, etc.

9-10 AM: On field work with your pitcher group. This includes a dynamic warm up, throwing for the day, and defensive work.

10-11:30 AM: Any lifting, conditioning, arm care, or mobility you have for the day. Some days you might throw off the mound at this time.

12-1 PM: Break for lunch.

1-4 PM: Spring training game. Those not pitching stay and watch. If you are scheduled to pitch, the morning schedule is different and pushed back.

Spring Training Games:

The Spring Training games take place in the complex backfields right next to the stadium. There are usually anywhere from 2-4 going on at the same time at both teams’ complexes. So if the Phillies had 4 games against the Yankees for example, we would send 2 teams to their complex in Tampa while two stayed back in Clearwater. We (the Phillies) typically play against the Blue Jays, Yankees, and Tigers since they are the closest.

The games are organized by projected minor league level, meaning there is usually a game for A, AA, and AAA all going on at once, so you are playing against caliber of players you will likely see during the season.

Sometimes there are exceptions to this. There were times where I got to face AA/AAA hitters even though I’m currently in A Clearwater. You find out what game your in and whether you’re at home or on the road when you get the itinerary for the day.

These games are ‘controlled’ in the sense that you know when you’re going to pitch and how many innings it will be. Sometimes 10-11 inning games will be scheduled if lots of pitchers need to throw.

My takeaways from Spring Training:

• Everyone is a ‘professional’: Everyone is always on time to everything and fully present. Everyone does their own extra work and has routines. Really difficult to just ‘out-work’ people since everyone is getting their work in all the time.

• Longevity & durability are critical to success: You may have heard the term “your best ability is availability.” The 6-week grind of Spring Training makes you realize how important it is to take care of your body as a baseball player. This is just the build up to a 5+ month season. If you take care of your recovery in the spring, you leave camp feeling your best. If you don’t, you might start the season already exhausted.

• The environment helps you grow: Being around 60+ other talented pitchers and competing for roster spots pushes you to make the most of every opportunity and do everything you need to do to perform at your best. Competing against hitters from all the minor league levels also shows you how to use your pitches best to attack different types of hitters.

• Competitive yet friendly: The obvious elephant in the room is that every single one of us is grinding to become a Big Leaguer one day, and only a select few of us will be able to do so. With that being said, you would think that people might be very reserved or cold towards each other, since they are competing for the same opportunities. But it’s actually quite the opposite. The players I spent time with were all great guys who treat you like a friend, and will have productive conversation with you all the time. It has made my experience that much better and really helped me settle in. But I can’t speak for other organizations, maybe the Phillies just have some really great people.

Best Advice I Recieved:

• Take care of your body: Already mentioned this above, but driving home how important it is. At this level especially, with a 120+ game schedule, it can take a toll on your body if you aren’t staying on top of things. Do everything right now so you’re not falling apart in August.

• Eliminate the noise: I was fortunate to receive advice from some older more experienced players, and they told me how with so many players in the organization and so much movement up and down, there will always be so much noise. It’s very important to simply be where your feet are, give your all to the opportunity you have, and focus on what you can control.

• Stick to your strengths: Understand what makes you a good player and lean into that. Do not go out there and try to be somebody you’re not. Your strengths as a player got you to this level, so embrace them.

• Remember you belong: If you got the opportunity to put on the jersey today and take the field, that means you belong.

Final Thoughts:

Once I found out I was breaking camp with Single-A Clearwater after a successful Spring Training, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude and excitement.

Less than two years ago I was in the transfer portal with very few D1 offers.

And now here I am going toe to toe with the best.

I am so excited to get to work and give it my all. There is nothing else I’d rather be doing. I wake up early every day with a fire and excitement to attack the day.

I am truly grateful that God has blessed me with this opportunity. It has introduced me to so many amazing people I now call friends. It has transformed the way I view life.

Getting to this position against all odds has led me to believe that life really is a blank canvas, and what you are willing to paint is really up to your level of boldness, audacity, and vision for your potential.

I just moved over to the Clearwater Threshers Clubhouse, the same one the Big Leaguers use for Spring Training. Check it out:

Lots more good stuff to come. I hope you enjoyed. Stay tuned.

- MT