MLB SPRING TRAINING DATES — In case you forgot, for the Chicago Cubs, the 2025 regular season begins before the formal end of the Cactus League/spring training. That’s because they are this year’s lucky team to open up the season abroad, in Tokyo, with two games against the Los Angeles Dodgers set for March 18 and 19. The rest of the league doesn’t start until roughly 10 days later. Because of that early jump, Chicago is the first team to require pitchers and catchers to report and also the first team up for full-squad workouts.
MLB Spring Training Dates
According to the schedule release, Cubs pitchers and catchers must report to camp by February 9, which is two days sooner than any other club, including the Dodgers. Likewise, their first full-squad workout is scheduled for February 14 (Valentine’s Day!), which is also before any other club, including the Dodgers (February 15).
Here’s the full slate of 2025 MLB Spring Training Dates:
If you’re doing some math at home, that means Cubs pitchers and catchers must report exactly four weeks from today, with full-squad workouts set for four weeks from Friday. Of course, the Cubs roster isn’t set yet. Jed Hoyer and company still must – at a minimum – look to add an impact reliever and a quality bench bat. But if you ask me, I’m hoping for more than that.
Among the names to keep in mind for at least those roles, though? Yoan Moncada and … whichever late-inning reliever fails to get the sort of multi-year deal he’s looking for (Kyle Finnegan? Kirby Yates? Carlos Estevez? Jose Leclerc? etc.). The only problem? The Cubs payroll outlook isn’t particularly bullish at the moment … we’ll have to see if they can make the most of their (relatively) limited time left before Spring Training begins!
And lastly, if you’re looking for the Cubs’ full Cactus League schedule, we’ve got that set of dates and times right here. Note: The Cubs’ first Spring Training game is set for February 20 and the last game of the spring slate is March 25. And that means they’ll be headed to Japan to face the Dodgers in the Tokyo Series in-between Spring Training action.