Spring Training in Bradenton, Sarasota & Tampa Bay

SPRING TRAINING 2027

Grapefruit League Baseball, a Short Drive from the Beach

Every February and March, six Major League teams play their spring games within about an hour of Anna Maria Island. The Pittsburgh Pirates are the closest, at historic LECOM Park in Bradenton, about 25 minutes from Cedar Cove. Spend the morning on the beach, catch an afternoon game, and be back on the island for sunset.

Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park, Bradenton

The Pirates open their 2027 spring schedule at home on Friday, February 19, against the Toronto Blue Jays, and play 15 games at LECOM Park. Their last home game is Saturday, March 20, against the Baltimore Orioles.

Home games worth circling:

  • Boston Red Sox: Wednesday, February 24, and Friday, March 12
  • Philadelphia Phillies: Sunday, February 28, and Monday, March 15
  • New York Yankees: Saturday, March 13, their only visit to Bradenton this spring
  • Baltimore Orioles: Saturday, March 20, the final home game

Game times, ticket prices and on-sale dates haven't been announced yet. Pirates spring training schedule and tickets.

Getting there from Cedar Cove: about 25 minutes. Take Manatee Avenue (SR 64) east over the bridge into Bradenton; LECOM Park is at 1611 9th St W. Directions on Google Maps

Five More Teams Within About an Hour

Spring games run from mid-to-late February until late March. Approximate drive times from Cedar Cove in normal traffic:

  • Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota, about 40 minutes. Schedule
  • New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, about 1 hour. Schedule
  • Philadelphia Phillies at BayCare Ballpark, Clearwater, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Schedule
  • Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark, Dunedin, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Schedule
  • Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park, North Port, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Schedule

The roads to Tampa, Clearwater and Dunedin cross the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which has a toll.

Good to know: Major League Baseball's labor agreement runs out on December 1, 2026. If a new one isn't agreed in time, spring games could start late, as they did in 2022. We'll update this page as news comes in, and the team schedules above always have the latest.

After Spring Training

LECOM Park stays busy once the big leaguers head north. The Bradenton Marauders, the Pirates' Single-A team, open their home season on Friday, April 2, 2027, with easygoing, family-friendly baseball into early September. Marauders schedule.

Make it a baseball trip February and March are our busiest months, so book early. Every suite and cottage has a full kitchen, the free island trolley stops right out front, and guests can borrow free bikes (sign one out at the front desk). Our beachfront and Resort Side suites are on the beach side of Gulf Drive, and our cottages are on the Cottage Side, just across Gulf Drive from our private beach.

Check our availability

See everything else that's on in our Events & Area Calendar, and our tips for things to do on Anna Maria Island.