Pirates announce 2023 spring training schedule

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Pirates announce 2023 spring training schedule

Justin Guerriero | Wednesday, August 31, 2022 2:38 p.m.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pirates center fielder Bryan Reynolds takes batting practice with outfielder Ben Gamel (left) during a work out on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla.

The Pittsburgh Pirates released their 2023 Grapefruit League schedule Wednesday afternoon, and it shows a return to normal after three altered years of spring training.

The Pirates will play 32 games, including 16 at LECOM Park.

Spring training was cut short in 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic. Workouts were restricted the following year due to coronavirus protocols, and stadium capacity was limited to 1,000 to 3,630 per game.

Spring training workouts in 2022 were to have started Feb. 16 but were delayed until March 11 by a 99-day lockout.

The Pirates will open at home Feb. 25 against the Toronto Blue Jays and finish at home March 28 against the Minnesota Twins.

The 2023 spring training season is the 55th in which the Pirates will be based in Bradenton.

See you in Bradenton next year! pic.twitter.com/iuEgeCTcdG

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 31, 2022

The Pirates are set to play two doubleheaders — March 2. vs. the New York Yankees (home) and the Blue Jays (away) with another against the Baltimore Orioles (home) and Twins (away) slated for March 14.

Another notable matchup is set for March 23, when the Pirates host the Boston Red Sox on St. Patrick’s Day.

Last spring, the Pirates went 7-7 in a shortened spring training. Because of the lockout, the start of spring training games was pushed back from Feb. 25 to March 17 and teams were limited to a schedule of 17-18 exhibition games. Opening day was rescheduled from March 31 to April 7.

Next year’s voluntary reporting date is Feb. 15 for pitchers, catchers and injured players and Feb. 20 for other players, but pitchers and catchers preparing for the World Baseball Classic have a mandatory reporting date of Feb. 13, with position players arriving three days later. The mandatory reporting date for everyone else is Feb. 25.

Exhibition games involving World Baseball Classic teams will be played on March 8 and 9, and spring training games at regular-season ballparks are scheduled from March 26-28.

Opening day is scheduled for March 30.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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