Sarasota, Florida Baseball Spring Training

Warm year-round temperatures make the state of Florida a popular destination for tourists, snowbirds, and residents. It also makes Florida the perfect spot for baseball teams looking to escape the cold come spring training season. Southwest Florida is home away from home for some of the best major league teams across the nation. Read more to find out how to watch a game in Florida’s Grapefruit League, maybe you’ll even catch a fly ball!

Where to Watch an Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, or Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training Baseball Game

The sunny Sarasota, Florida area is the spring home of not one, but three major league teams: the Baltimore Orioles, the Atlanta Braves, and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Baseball spring training games typically start the end of February or the beginning of March.

The Atlanta Braves spring train in North Port’s West Villages District and a state-of-the-art stadium, CoolToday Park. The 7,000-seat stadium features a wide concourse around the entire stadium with lots of awesome vendors. Make sure to check out the Tomahawk Tiki Bar, a massive open bar serving delicious food and drinks.

The Baltimore Orioles play at Ed Smith Stadium (referred to by fans as Birdland South). With many of the amenities of major ballparks, this 8,000-seat stadium is a great place to catch a game. Shady seats are found in sections 203 to 211 and on the first base side of section 215 to 223. If you are visiting the stadium with little ones, try to catch a Sunday game where kids ages 4-14 are invited to run the bases postgame. Arrive early for a chance for autographs from coaches and players and don’t forget to check out the Orioles Official Team Store for swag.

Slightly north of Sarasota in Bradenton, baseball fans will find the spring training stadium for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Historic LECOM Park was originally built in 1923 with a beautiful Spanish mission-style façade. Inside, the stadium has all the modern amenities and 8,500 comfortable seats.

Other teams included in the Grapefruit League are the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Mets, Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, and the Washington Nationals.

Make the short trip (approx. 1 hour and 20 minutes) from Sarasota to Fort Myers to watch a Boston Red Sox or Minnesota Twins. Learn more here.

Florida Grapefruit League Baseball. Where to Watch an Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, or Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training Baseball Game Infographic. MLB Spring Training. Must Do Visitor Guides | MustDo.com

Written by: Laurén Ettinger | Author Website

Laurén Ettinger is the Assistant Editor at Siesta Publications for Must Do Visitor Guides where she manages social media, writes blog articles, and assists in editing print and online copy. Laurén also works as a freelance copy editor and proofreader. She holds a M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University's School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution and a B.A. in Anthropology and a B.A. in Global Studies from Appalachian State University.