From pitchers and catchers reporting to the first Grapefruit League game, here are the key spring training dates
If you’re the type of Red Sox fan who starts checking the calendar the moment football season winds down, this one’s for you.
The most important dates on Boston’s spring training roadmap are officially locked in, and exhibition baseball is closer than it might feel.
The Red Sox will have pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers on February 10, officially kicking off the 2026 spring training slate.
Five days later, on February 15, the full squad will be on the field at JetBlue Park for the first complete workouts of camp.
That window between pitchers and catchers and full squad workouts is always one of the more fascinating stretches of the baseball calendar. It’s where optimism thrives, jobs begin to be quietly won or lost, and storylines start to form before the games even begin. Whether it’s a young arm trying to force his way into the rotation or a bullpen piece fighting to stick, those early sessions matter more than fans often realize.
From there, things move quickly.
The Red Sox will play their first spring training game on February 20, squaring off against Northeastern in their annual tune-up matchup. That game is usually less about results and more about rhythm, but it’s still the first real chance to see the 2026 roster in action under game conditions. Plus, it’s a very cool tradition that I wish the other teams in town (minus the Patriots) would adopt.
One day later, on February 21, the Grapefruit League schedule officially gets underway. And for those eager to get down to Fort Myers early, the first home game at JetBlue Park is set for February 22, when Boston hosts the defending AL champs in the Toronto Blue Jays.
MORE RED SOX STORIES:
There’s No One Left Standing Between the Red Sox and Alex Bregman
Which Boston Team Is Next To Win A Championship?
Veteran Insider Says the Ketel Marte Window Is Closing Soon for Red Sox
As always, spring training is about more than dates on a calendar. It’s about context. It’s about where the organization is headed and what questions still need answers before opening day arrives.
For the Red Sox, this camp will carry plenty of intrigue. The foundation of the roster is largely in place, but there will still be competitions worth monitoring across the diamond.
Rotation roles, bullpen depth, bench construction, and the final shape of the lineup will all take form in Florida. And as history has shown, a strong or disjointed spring can often foreshadow how prepared a team truly is once the games start to count.
There’s a reason why Kristian Campbell was the first of the “big three” to be called up to the majors last season, starting the season on the opening day roster at second base after ending the spring slate on a high note. Now, how he performs this spring will yet again determine where he starts the 2026 season after petering out a third of the way into last season.
With all the arms Boston has in the mix, who will emerge as the true No. 4 and 5 for the starting rotation outside? Tolle and Early? Oviedo and Sandoval? Some combination of those four that we’re not expecting?
There’s also something uniquely comforting about spring training itself.
The sun. The routine. The feeling that baseball is back, even if the standings don’t reflect it yet.
For a fan base that lives and breathes this team year-round, those first workouts and early exhibition games are a reset button.
Everyone has World Series aspirations when the baseball is being played in Florida and Arizona, even if you know those expectations are unfounded.
February 10 may feel far away now, but it will be here before you know it. And once pitchers and catchers report, the countdown to meaningful Red Sox baseball truly begins again.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
Remember to join our RED SOX on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Red Sox fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!
Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.
Category: General Sports
