How To Guide: Spring Training in Fort Myers
Another first has occurred with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Their new affiliation with the Minnesota Twins presents an enticing possibility. If Blue Wahoos fans wish to check out the Twins and rising prospects who will be in Pensacola this season, a road trip to Spring Training is now doable. It's 598 miles of
Another first has occurred with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.
Their new affiliation with the Minnesota Twins presents an enticing possibility.
If Blue Wahoos fans wish to check out the Twins and rising prospects who will be in Pensacola this season, a road trip to Spring Training is now doable.
It's 598 miles of interstate highway from Blue Wahoos Stadium to Hammond Stadium at the CenturyLink Sports Complex in Fort Myers, where the Twins pitchers and catchers reported Wednesday.
But that's far shorter than Arizona and the Cactus League where the Cincinnati Reds have Spring Training. This is the first time in franchise history a road trip is possible to see the Blue Wahoos' future players and their parent club.
"The good thing is the stadium is pretty centrally located within Fort Myers, so pretty easy to get to," said Marshall Kelner, broadcaster and media relations manager for the Fort Myers Miracle, the Twins' High-A affiliate that won the Florida State League championship last year.
"It's not too far to get to Naples or downtown Fort Myers or the beach, so we draw from all over," he said.
If you're tempted, interested, or planning a road trip to go check out the Blue Wahoos new affiliate, here are some tips and suggestions.
The CenturyLink Sports Complex is located less than four miles from Interstate-75 after taking Exit 131 Daniels Parkway. In two turns… after the 590-plus miles on I-10 and I-75…. you're there.
As of Feb. 13, tickets remained for 11 of the Twins 18 spring training home games, including the first three spring training games Feb. 23 (Tampa Bay Rays), Feb. 25 (Baltimore Orioles), and Feb. 26 (Pittsburgh Pirates).
The sellouts include the three games with the Boston Red Sox (March 1, 18, 22), who train only five miles away on Daniels Parkway at JetBlue Park.
The other current sellouts are the only home games with the Toronto Blue Jays (March 10), Washington Nationals (March 14), New York Yankees (March 24) and the Spring Training finale against the Colorado Rockies (March 26).
Single game tickets range from $9-$45. Parking at the stadium is $10. The availability and purchasing can be viewed on www.mlb.com/twins/tickets/spring-training.
"The later it gets in spring training, the more popular the games are regardless of opponent," Kelner said. "The starters are playing longer, so you get more build up to the season.
"The Yankees and Red Sox, those games are always going to sell out."
The food options at the stadium are plentiful. There are items that connect to Minnesota and Canadian fans like cheese curds, a Midwestern state fair staple, and poutine, along with Killebrew Root Beer, named to honor beloved former slugger Harmon Killebrew and with its own distinctive taste.
There are items to connect to Fort Myers like Love Boat Ice Cream. There's also Naughty Hot Barbecue, 5-4-3 Triple Play oven pizza, and several new items Spicy Chicago Beef Egg Rolls, Jalapeno Cheddar Bratworst on a stick, and Mon Key Buntz, which is a doughnut, cinnamon crumbles, and soft serve ice cream mixture in a souvenir helmet.
"You won't go hungry. There's food for everyone," Kelner said.
The stadium itself has been home to the Florida high school state baseball championships since 2017. A new contract was signed through 2021.
Pensacola Catholic (2017) and Pace (2018) both played in the state final four at the CenturyLink Sports Complex the past two years.
A major renovation to the stadium in 2015 created a circular 360-degree boardwalk-style concourse. For sellout crowds, the ballpark can stretch to a 9,300 capacity.
"Fans can walk all around the ballpark without having to leave and that's been popular," Kelner said. "There are two big berm areas for kids to run around… one beyond left field and the other in right field."
Kelner said the other popular feature for kids are the large fountains on a plaza outside the stadium.
"Compared to a major league (regular season) game, you are paying a lot less," he said. "And you are really close to the players. There is not a bad seat in this stadium."
If you go and seek autographs, the best bet is to arrive early in the stands. Players tend to sign before the game. Veteran starters play only a few innings and leave the stadium before the game ends.
Kelner said often the teams will take batting practice at a field adjacent to the stadium and players will be more accessible there.
While the Twins are playing, many of the future Blue Wahoos players will be at the adjacent minor league complex playing in MiLB Spring Training games that are free to attend.
The biggest travel expense won't be filling up the gas tank or the tickets or the food.
Rather, it's the hotel prices.
This is high season in South Florida. Rooms are $200-$500 per-night. One option is staying off I-75 outside of Tampa in Brandon, which has hotels like Courtyard Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Holiday Inn Express for rates that are pricing for $100 less than in the Fort Myers-Naples area.
It's 120 miles to Fort Myers from there, which means you can have breakfast, hit the road and be at the ballpark by 11 a.m. for the 1:05 game.
And if you're tempted to go, the cost will still be a lot cheaper than flying to Arizona.
Spring Training Important Dates
Thursday - Twins pitchers and catchers in first workout.
Feb. 18 - Twins full-squad workout with 40-man roster.
Feb. 23 - Twins first spring training games (split squad) vs. Orioles (1:05 p.m.), vs. Rays (6:05 p.m.)
March 26 - Spring training finale vs. Rockies
March 31-April 1 - Blue Wahoos players arrive in Pensacola.
April 4 - Blue Wahoos season-opener at Mobile BayBears
April 10 - Blue Wahoos home opener vs. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
Debating best Minor League home caps on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
The Omaha Storm Chasers' 'Take Meow-t' cat night included a Litter Box Sundae
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Boston's Triple-A affiliate throws birthday bash for Roman Anthony
With all the hype that has surrounded Roman Anthony over the past two seasons, it’s easy to forget how young he really is. MLB's No. 1 prospect played 70 games at the highest level of the Minors before he could order a beer. But he can now. Roman Anthony turned
Friendly foes, 2024 first-rounders Moore and Caglianone trade first Triple-A homers
For years, Christian Moore and Jac Caglianone laced up their cleats against one another in the SEC. A rivalry that spanned Florida, Tennessee and other landmarks across the South moved to Salt Lake City this week as the Royals and Angels' top prospects got simultaneous Triple-A promotions. So it was
Phillies' Moore, Fausnaught join MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition: