The Kansas City Royals are hoping to defend their World Series title this season, starting with a strong spring training. (Instagram)
The Kansas City Royals won the World Series. Now, they’re out to do it again.
Armed with a more-than-just-a-little-intense fan base and a roster that is still jam-packed with young arms and even stronger bats, the Royals are heading west for 2016 spring training in Surprise, Arizona.
The expectations are higher than ever for Kansas City, but, this time around, the Royals are more determined than ever to meet them. Read on for all the important spring training dates as well as details on the squad’s schedule and training location. Here we go:
Royals Reporting Dates
Pitchers & Catchers Report: Thursday, February 18
Pitchers & Catchers Workout: Friday, February 19
Full Squad Reports: Monday, February 22
First Full Squad Workout: Tuesday, February 23
Royals Spring Training Schedule
***all games are played at 2:05 p.m CT unless otherwise noted
Wednesday, March 2: vs. Texas Rangers
Thursday, March 3: vs. Texas Rangers
Friday, March 4: at San Diego Padres, 8:10 p.m. CT
Saturday, March 5: vs. Chicago White Sox
Sunday, March 6: at Los Angeles Angles, 2:10 p.m. CT
Monday, March 7: Split Squad at Chicago Cubs & Split Squad Oakland Athletics
Tuesday, March 8: vs. Colorado Rockies
Wednesday, March 9: Split Squad vs. Milwaukee Brewers & Split Squad at Seattle Marines, 2:10 p.m CT
Thursday, March 10: at Chicago White Sox
Friday, March 11: vs. Arizona D-backs
Saturday, March 12: at Arizona D-backs, 2:10 CT
Sunday, March 13: vs. Cleveland Indians, 3:05 p.m. CT
Monday, March 14: vs. Chicago White Sox, 3:05 p.m. CT
Tuesday, March 15: at Cincinnati Reds, 3:05 p.m. CT
Wednesday, March 16: vs. Chicago Cubs, 3:05 p.m. CT
Thursday March 17: at Los Angeles Dodgers, 3:05 p.m. CT
Friday, March 18: Split Squad vs. Los Angeles Angles, 3:05 p.m CT & Split Squad at Texas Rangers, 7 p.m. CT
Saturday, March 19: Split Squad at Texas Rangers, 2 p.m. CT & Split Squad vs. Seattle Marines, 3:05 p.m. CT
Sunday, March 20: at Chicago Cubs, 3:05 p.m. CT
Tuesday, March 22: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 8:05 p.m. CT
Wednesday, March 23: at Cleveland Indians, 3:05 p.m. CT
Thursday, March 24: at Milwaukee Brewers, 3:05 p.m. CT
Friday, March 25: at San Francisco Giants, 3:05 p.m. CT
Saturday, March 26: vs. Oakland Athletics, 3:05 p.m. CT
Sunday, March 27: at Oakland Athletics, 3:05 p.m. CT
Monday, March 28: Split Squad vs. San Diego Padres, 3:05 p.m. CT & Split Squad at Seattle Mariners, 3:10 p.m. CT
Tuesday, March 29: vs. San Francisco Giants, 8:05 p.m. CT
Wednesday, March 30: at Texas Rangers
Royals Spring Training Location
The Royals play their spring training games at Surprise Stadium, the same spring home of the Texas Rangers as well. The stadium houses 10,500 seats and also includes six full practice fields as well as a half field and has been open since 2002.
In addition to housing Kansas City and the Rangers during their respective spring training regiments, Surprise Stadium is also the home of the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League. It also previously housed the Surprise Fightin’ Falcons of the Golden Baseball League before the team folded after their only season in 2005.