What You Need To Know
- Florida and Arizona host 15 MLB teams each every year for spring training
- Spring training games are unofficial, and gives fans a chance to see their team play in warmer climates
- Florida and Arizona are both warm in March, but differ in precipitation and humidity
Since the late 1800s, MLB teams have sent their players and coaches south to train and practice in a warmer climate to prepare for the season.
Since 2018, MLB has split the league with 15 teams training in Florida and the other 15 in Arizona. The reason for those two locations is pretty straight-forward: the weather.
Florida Grapefruit League
MLB spreads out most of the teams that train in Florida along the Gulf Coast, with a few teams in south Florida. Average high temperatures in south and central Florida during March hover around the upper 70s and lower 80s.
The Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins play in the two coldest spots as far as March temperatures go, averaging high temperatures in the lower 40s. Not only do the players and fans get to escape the cold, but Toronto and Minneapolis average around 8 inches of snowfall during March.
Minnesota Twins’ spring home, Fort Myers, has an average high temperature in March almost 40 degrees warmer than Minneapolis, and hasn’t even had a low temperature below 40 degrees in March since 2013. Along with the Twins, the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Tigers all get about a 35-degree temperature increase after traveling south during a typical March day.
The Marlins actually get to travel more than 80 miles north to Jupiter from Miami, and get a break from the heat, with average temperatures about 3 degrees lower. How about the rest of the list? Besides the Astros, Rays, and Marlins, the temperature difference is pretty significant and worthy of a trip to Florida for Spring Break.
Arizona Cactus League
In the Cactus League, all 15 teams play and train in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The average high temperature in March for the Phoenix area is a balmy 78.1 degrees. Since the Cactus League is more centralized, with no two teams more than a 45-minute drive apart, average temperatures are all within a few degrees of each other.
The biggest difference from the Grapefruit League is the desert offers much lower humidity and less rainfall. Midwest teams from the NL and AL Central Divisions have the biggest disparity when it comes to Arizona temperatures, getting about a 30-degree increase during the month of March. The Colorado Rockies escape Denver’s snowiest month of the year on average to play in sunny Scottsdale.
Similar to the Marlins, the Arizona Diamondbacks, who play in downtown Phoenix, get to travel 20 minutes into Scottdale, where the average March high temperature is only a few degrees lower.
Beach or Desert?
So, if you’re a neutral fan in a cold weather state and want to take in some baseball on Spring Break, do you go to Florida or Arizona? Florida teams are more spread out, requiring longer drives, and you’ll have to deal with more humidity and higher rain chances. The Cactus League is much more centralized, and it’s a dry heat, but besides baseball, Phoenix may have less to offer for tourist opportunities when you’re not at a game.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.
Conclusion
Spring training offers a warm break for teams and fans alike. While both Florida and Arizona provide a reprieve from the cold, the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference. Do you prefer the sun-kissed beaches of Florida or the dry, warm heat of the Arizona desert? Either way, spring training is a unique opportunity to catch a glimpse of your favorite team in action, and to escape the cold for a little while.
FAQs
Q: How many teams train in Florida and Arizona?
A: 15 teams train in Florida and 15 teams train in Arizona.
Q: What is the purpose of spring training?
A: Spring training allows MLB teams to prepare for the season in a warmer climate, giving players a chance to get acclimated to the weather and work on their skills.
Q: What is the main difference between the Grapefruit League and the Cactus League?
A: The main difference is the climate: Florida has higher humidity and more rainfall, while Arizona has lower humidity and less rainfall.
