he's chasing dreams hitting seams.
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I promise I will get things rolling with more content from spring training soon. I came down with a cold/sinus infection, Matt & I have been trying to find an apartment and I’ve been having jobs interviews/been working spring training games and ASU games. It’s been a crazy eight days since we’ve been here. ANYWAY, I had a couple people ask me how spring training works/if Matt is with the big leaguers, so I thought I would do a blog about how spring training works. (The least complicated version at least.) First, spring training facilities are in two places: Arizona (Cactus League) or Florida (Grapefruit League). The report dates baseball fans keep up with usually are the report dates for the big leaguers. For the Dodgers, pitchers and catchers reported Feb. 15. All other players/invitees reported before Feb. 21 which was the first full-squad workout. And Feb. 25 was the first game for the Dodgers. Camelback Ranch (which is the facility the Dodgers and White Sox share & I’m doing a tour vlog of soon!) is separated into two Dodger sides: 1) the major league side 2) the minor league side. Players on the major league side include players on the 40-man roster AND big-league camp invites which are decided on by each organization. The number of big-league camp invites vary for each organization. The Dodgers had 21 invites. The Cardinals had 18. The Cubs had 24. Most of the time, the guys who are high prospects in the organization (another post for another time) get the invites or if the club expects said invitee to get big league time soon. (Matt did not get a big league invite…this year!) As for the minor leaguers, there are several different report dates. Matt’s report date was Feb. 26, but he got here a week early because we were apartment hunting (and he wanted to get extra work in cause he’s that kind of guy). He went ahead and started doing workouts. The Feb. 26 report date was for what they call “early camp.” So right now, the guys that reported Feb. 26 are just getting extra work in. The Feb. 19 report date was for guys who the Dodgers wanted to go through an arm strengthening program and also “in case of emergency group (ICE group)” for the big league games. And some minor league guys are still rolling in. Report dates are assigned by each club.
BUT there is twist! Minor leaguers get invited to play in big league games throughout spring training. AND Matt gets to play in his first big league spring training game tomorrow (March 3)!! He’s obviously super excited, and he even admitted a little nervous! Also, besides just getting to play in the big league game, minor leaguers get paid $100 each when play in big league game. (That’s big time especially when they aren’t getting paid during spring training.) (Side note: The Dodgers do put the guys up in a hotel and provide all meals. And if they choose to not live in the hotel, they get $40 a day.) Spring training lasts until the end of March, and players are basically competing for positions. And obviously competing to make the higher team rosters. (If you’re confused on that, you can check out the blog I wrote after Matt was drafted that explains the Dodgers minor league levels.) Minor leaguers play spring training games just like the big leaguers. Those games should start within the next couple of weeks. The Dodgers do not give team assignments until the last few days of spring training, so for now, Matt just plays hard, does his best and hopes for the best! Jesica’s note: What’s discussed in this blog is referring to the Dodgers organization. Every organization is different as far as report dates, etc. but still the same basics.
1 Comment
Leanne Edwards
3/3/2017 11:41:44 am
That is AWESOME! Congrats on the game today! Let us know how it goes!
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Matt & Jesica BeatyWelcome in to dreams and seams! A tell-all blog about our career dreams and path to reaching those dreams with some commentary about sports and life plus some videos too. "Strive for the impossible because it makes the possible seem effortless." -Matt Beaty Categories
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