Pitchers and catchers reported to Arizona on Tuesday kicking off spring training for the 2026 Major League Baseball season.
The Cactus League brings half of baseball to the Grand Canyon State. In 2025, nearly 1.7 million fans attended the monthlong baseball exhibition in the desert.
The Cactus League is comprised of 15 major league teams, including the Arizona Diamondbacks and reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The Grapefruit League in Florida hosts spring training for the other half of the league.
This year will also feature games between major league franchises and national teams from the World Baseball Classic — an international tournament held every four years.
Japan is the defending champion after they defeated the United States in 2023. The tournament was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
An Automated Ball-Strike system will be used during the MLB’s 2026 regular season. ABS was initially tested during spring training last year. Challenges using ABS took less than 14 seconds on average.
This is the final year in the MLB collective bargaining agreement. The league could face a lockout in 2027 if an agreement is not reached.
The MLB faced a lockout when the previous agreement expired in 2021.
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