Major League Baseball announced its full 2026 Spring Training schedule on Wednesday, featuring games starting February 20 and unique exhibitions against World Baseball Classic teams. The schedule includes 16 Spring Breakout contests from March 19-22, showcasing top prospects from all 30 organizations. Highlights include potential matchups between the game's top-ranked prospects in games like Tigers at Pirates.
Major League Baseball unveiled the 2026 Spring Training schedule, which begins on February 20 with initial games in the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues. The slate opens with four Cactus League matchups: D-backs vs. Rockies, Padres vs. Mariners, Royals vs. Rangers, and White Sox vs. Cubs. In the Grapefruit League, the Yankees face the Orioles, while exhibition games pit the Red Sox against Northeastern University and the Twins against the University of Minnesota. A full slate of games across both leagues follows on February 21.
The schedule incorporates 28 exhibition games against World Baseball Classic teams on March 3 and 4, with 14 games each day. Team USA will play the Giants on March 3 at Scottsdale Stadium and the Rockies on March 4 at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. The WBC itself starts March 6 in Miami, Houston, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Crossover games add variety, such as the Yankees visiting the Cubs in Mesa, Arizona, on March 23-24, and the Tigers traveling to face the Rockies in Scottsdale on the same dates. The Athletics will host the Angels in Las Vegas on March 7-8 at Las Vegas Ballpark.
The Spring Breakout series, set for March 19-22, features 16 games in Major League Spring Training ballparks. Every team participates, with the Brewers and Phillies playing two games each. Notable matchups include Tigers at Pirates on March 20 in Bradenton, Florida, potentially pitting top prospect Konnor Griffin (Pirates, No. 1 overall) against Kevin McGonigle (Tigers, No. 2). Other highlights: Mariners (3rd-ranked farm system) at Brewers (4th) on March 20, and Rays at Mets on March 19.
"There's a lot more to this matchup than just Griffin vs. McGonigle," MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis wrote of the Tigers-Pirates game. The Tigers hold the No. 6 farm system ranking by MLB Pipeline, while the Pirates are No. 9. Baseball America's Josh Norris called the matchup "the gem of the series."
The schedule culminates with Opening Night on March 25, Giants vs. Yankees at Oracle Park, followed by a 14-game Opening Day on March 26.