CLEVELAND — The 2020 baseball season has arrived.
After months of roster moves across the league in an effort to close gaps between contenders and non-playoff teams, managerial changes and a scandal that rocked the sport, it is time to get down to business on the diamond.
The Cleveland Indians’ pitchers and catchers reported to Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona today, while the full squad is set to start their preparations on Saturday, February 15, and eighth-year manager Terry Francona is very much looking forward to the season.
“It’s easy to talk about the challenges or things you don’t have, but what I prefer to look at is what we do have, and that’s the people,” Francona told WKYC.com during Tribe Fest 2020.
“That’s why I’m here. If it wasn’t for the people, I wouldn’t have come here in the first place and I don’t think I’d still be here, but I love doing what we do together. It makes me want to stay here and makes me want to win here.”
The Indians open the 2020 spring training schedule against the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark on Saturday, February 22.
This spring, the Indians will play 15 games as the home team, plus another 18 on the road. Along with eight weekend home games, the Indians will have four split-squad days (Feb. 29, March 1, March 9 and March 17).
The Indians will wrap up spring training with two exhibition games against the defending American League Champion Astros in Houston on March 23-24 before reporting to Progressive Field in Cleveland for the start of the 2020 regular season against the Detroit Tigers on March 26.
The Indians are looking to get back to the postseason in 2020 after missing the playoffs for the first time in four years last season, but it will not be easy, as the Minnesota Twins figure to be contenders again this year.
Additionally, the Chicago White Sox signed several players to go along with their young up-and-coming stars to help jumpstart their multi-year rebuild and get themselves into contention within the AL Central Division in 2020.