February is just around the corner and that means baseball season is just around the corner!
Well, spring training, that is.
We’ve all survived the long, hard non-baseball months of December and January, and in a few days we’ll all be happy to hear the crack of the bats and the pop of the gloves and see all of our favorite players take the field again.
The Colorado Rockies had a surprisingly busy offseason, so fans are eager to see how they’ll walk the walk after talking the talk since November. We’ll get our first look at how Paul DePodesta, Josh Byrnes and Warren Schaeffer’s visions for this team play out on the field, along with all the new faces they’ve signed.
But if you’re planning to make the trek to Arizona, here are some things to keep in mind as you descend into the Valley of the Sun.
Where do the Rockies play?
The Rockies share Salt River Fields at Talking Stick with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The stadium opened in 2011, making it the second-newest stadium in the Cactus League. It is located at 7555 N Pima Rd in Scottsdale.
(For insights on each individual stadium, reread my 2020 baseball guide.)
Fun Fact: The Phoenix metro area has the largest concentration of professional sports stadiums in the United States, with all 10 Cactus League stadiums within 47 miles of each other.
How can you get in on the action?
Pitchers and catchers report on Thursday, February 12 and the entire team will have their first training on Tuesday, February 17.
The training courses are free and public. They take place from 9am to 12:30pm local time on the SRF backfields, and are a great way to get up close to your favorite players and potentially score autographs. I personally got autographs from Patrick Corbin, Braden Shipley, Paul Goldschmidt, David Peralta and Robbie Ray by hanging out in the backfields.
As for games, the first is on Friday, February 20 at 1:10 PM MST against their stadium mates, the Arizona Diamondbacks. As usual, they will play their first two games against the Snakes – the first ‘at home’ and the second ‘away’. Some other highlights include an exhibition game against Team USA on Wednesday, March 4 and Spring Breakout on Saturday, March 21. You can buy tickets here.
If you can’t make it to Scottsdale, you can still watch and/or listen to select games. The Rockies have not yet released their schedule, but Thomas Harding reported that nine games will air on Rockies.TV, and 13 will air on 850 AM/94.1FM KOA Rockies Radio Network.
Which players should we keep an eye on?
Although the list of non-invitees has not yet been released, there are plenty of new faces. Some of the players fans should keep an eye on include
- LHP Brennan Bernardino
- RHP Michael Lorenzen
- BY Jake McCarthy
- UTL Willi Castro
- INF Edouard Julien
Additionally, there are plenty of PuRPs who will be in and around the complex – either on the 40-man, as NRIs, or in minor league camp. Here is the list revealed so far.
There will also be numerous positional battles with the new-look Rockies. Not all players who ended up on the active roster in 2025 will make the Opening Day roster. Some may start in Triple-A as the Rockies work to rebuild from the ground up.
What otherwise can I do in Phoenix?
Great question! There are so many good things to check out! Here are some of my recommendations:
Restaurants, bars and shops
About a mile west of Salt River Fields is the Mercado Del Lago shopping center. It’s a small outdoor area with some of my favorite restaurants, including the famous ones Butter Pancakes & Café as well as my new favorite place, PHX Beer Co.
Old Town Scottsdale is not far from Salt River Fields – about 15 minutes south. It is also where the San Francisco Giants play their games. It is home to numerous restaurants, bars and shops. Most of the stores are “Old West” style gift shops, but… Baseballism is in the middle of it. Additional, Scottsdale Fashion Square – the largest shopping center I think I’ve ever been to – is just down the street and Scottsdale Civic Center Park is a great outdoor space to hang out.
As far as restaurants and bars in the old town go, these are some of my personal favorites Goldwater Brewing Co., Cold beers and cheeseburgers, The Sugar Bowl And Brat House.
If you want to go a little north (15 min) or a little south (15 min), you can visit one of the open-air shopping centers. Desert Ridge Marketplace is located in North Scottsdale and Tempe Marketplace is located in Tempe (and is right next to Sloan Park, home of the Chicago Cubs). Tempe is also home to some of my favorite breweries: Four peaks brewing, Six Byrd Cider Co.And Catalyst-crafted ales.
It is worth noting that the Maricopa County Police Department takes drunk driving very seriously. If you’re going to drink, make sure you have a designated driver or take an Uber, Lyft, or Waymo.
Phoenix is home to many museums and entertainment venues, and they are all top-notch. My personal favorite is the Musical instruments museumhome to the largest collection of musical instruments in the Western Hemisphere. However, take enough time to go through it; I’ve been there four times and I still don’t think I’ve gotten through it. Currently they have an exhibition about the history of the flute.
Located just across the highway from Salt River Fields OdySea Aquarium. There is the main aquarium, as well as an outdoor “Riverwalk” area with shops and a butterfly pavilion (all at an additional cost, of course). Additional, Medieval times has a setup just north of the stadium. I haven’t been there yet, but it’s on my list, and my friends who have been all loved it!
In Central Phoenix you will find the Heard Museum – the premier museum of Native American art in the US – and the Arizona Science Center. You could also have one Phoenix Symphony Concertor watch Come from far away at the Phoenix Theater Company.
Finally the Hall of Flame Museum of Fire Fighting Located a bit south in Tempe, near Phoenix Municipal Stadium if you’re hoping to get one ASU baseball game.
The weather in February and March is absolutely beautiful and a great time to be outside in the beautiful desert. Personally, I love the Desert Botanical Gardens and the Phoenix Zoo. They’re next to each other, so maybe you can make a doubleheader! (I would start with the zoo first, as they close earlier.)
Pro Tip: The Desert Botanical Gardens hosts a “pay what you can” community day on the second Tuesday of every month. Tickets normally cost between $32.95-$39.95 for adults and $14.95-$19.95 for children ages 3-17. Children under 2 years old are free.
There are also plenty of walking options around The Valley. Camelback Mountain is obviously the most famous hike (for good reason), but you can also go to East Mesa for the Superstition Mountains or to Fountain Hills for the McDowells (the mountains you can see from SRF).
If you are a golfer (I’m not) there are plenty of golf courses nearby too.
Finally, two music festivals also take place there: the Collection Festival (February 20-22) and the Extra Innings Festival (February 27-28). Both take place in Tempe Beach Park and involve both musical performers and baseball-minded people.
As someone who has lived in the Phoenix area on and off for about 15 years, there really is nothing like the Valley of the Sun. There’s a reason I came back after six years. It is a big city with a lot to do, but that is not the case So as big as Los Angeles it is a challenge to do anything without extensive planning. Phoenix’s freeway system makes everything driveable within 30-60 minutes, but there are also plenty of public transportation options.
If you make the trek, let me know in the comments and I’ll be happy to give you more recommendations!
Have you been to Arizona for spring training? What are some of your recommendations? Let us know!
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