Play ball!
The Pittsburgh Pirates will open their spring-training season Saturday, Feb. 23, in Clearwater with a game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Pirates will then host the Miami Marlins at 1:05 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, in the home opener at LECOM Park in Bradenton. The Marlins last played in Bradenton March 17, 1993 — their first year as a team.
A total of 15 home games will be played at LECOM Park, including a March 15 game against the Tampa Bay Rays and a St. Patrick’s Day game against the Boston Red Sox.
The Pirates will close out the home portion of their 2019 spring schedule with a 1:05 p.m. game Sunday March 23, against the Phillies.
The Pirates will go on the road, playing two games March 25 and March 26 in Houston to close out the spring training schedule, and then depart for Cincinnati to open the 2019 regular season Thursday, March 28.
Pitchers and catchers reported for spring training Feb. 13, followed by position players Feb. 18.
The 10th annual Pirates Pep Rally took place on Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton Feb. 16, with players signing autographs and Yesterdayze playing 1960s covers.
LECOM Park is at 1611 Ninth St. W., Bradenton.
For more information about spring training, go online to pirates.com/springtraining.
Did you know?
All the Major League Baseball uniforms in the 2019 regular season will sport an MLB 150 patch on the right sleeve to mark the 150th anniversary of the first openly all-salaried professional baseball team — the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings.