How to Watch Spring Training Batting Practice

Find the camps. Any source of Florida or Arizona tourism information will tell you where the baseball team's Spring Training camps are located. Many are close enough that you are able to hit several camps in a short period of time--even in one day.

Get the times. Each team has its own schedule of workouts including batting practice during Spring Training. The times are often published in the local newspaper, or they are available from the individual club. Generally players will hit the fields in the morning (although not too early), and be done by mid-afternoon on non game days. Later in the afternoon you might find individual players working out, but the camp will be fairly quiet.

Look at the schedule. Baseball Spring Training camps will open in mid February (the exact date will vary by team), but preseason games won't begin until right around the first of March. The daily schedule for each team will change when games begin, and will be different depending on whether the team is at home or on the road.

Check out the cages. During the season, baseball players take batting practice in shifts before the game. In Spring Training, they do the same thing, but there is also a great deal of activity deeper into the complex in the batting cages. You'll find minor league rookies getting in some extra hitting, but you may also find stars working on a particular approach or trying to get their timing down.

Bring your own program. Although they sell scorecards at each Baseball Spring Training game, the camps are often so full of rookies that even the broadcasters don't know the names of all the players. Do some research before you go so you can identify not only the stars, but the stars of the future.

Study the strategy. While baseball batting practice (even in Spring Training) can resemble home run derby, take note of the skills each player is trying to develop. If you see a lot of bunting practice you have a good clue about what you might see in the regular season. You might catch a player working on hitting the ball to the opposite field, or attempting to get more slap hits through the infield.

Track the future stars. Late in baseball's Spring Training the teams begin sending players to their Minor League camp. It's usually part of the Major League complex, but the farm clubs will play their own preseason games, and conduct workouts including batting practice. Often the players are even more accessible than they are in the Major League camp.