Major League Baseball announced this Spring Training that each MLB organization’s top prospects would compete against each other in one game across four set-aside dates – March 14th, 15th, 16th, or 17th – at MLB’s Spring Training parks across the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues.
Names on rosters include the likenesses of Baltimore Orioles number one prospect, second baseman, Jackson Holliday (ITD No. 1), Chicago White Sox number one prospect, shortstop, Colson Montgomery (ITD No. 14), Oakland Athletics number one prospect, infielder, Jacob Wilson (ITD No. 67), Chicago Cubs number one prospect, outfielder, Pete Crow-Armstrong (ITD No. 16), number two prospect, right-handed pitcher, Cade Horton (ITD No. 27) and Arizona Diamondbacks number one and two prospects, shortstops, Jordan Lawlar (MLB No. 10) and Tommy Troy (MLB No. 73).
Marquee matchups include the Crosstown Classic, Chicago Cubs vs Chicago White Sox at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona (March 15), the Freeway Series, Los Angeles Dodgers vs Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Arizona (March 16), and two of the ITD’s top prospects in Holliday (Baltimore) and Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh Pirates) set to face off at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida (March 14).
Altogether, 71 of the ITD’s top 100 prospects will appear in all 16 games. The games will be streamed across the networks with access to the MLB. ESPN, MLB.tv, MLB Network, and one of the two teams home radio broadcasts.
So, why is it good for the game?
It encourages the kids that just got drafted, Skenes, Holliday and Wilson, as well as names that have drawn some serious attention with their performances, whether in the Fall League like Montgomery, in the Minor Leagues like Lawlar or in college like Wilson, the opportunity to showcase what they can do against the players they will see for the majority of their career. It provides the opportunity for non-roster invite players who may not otherwise be able to wear their teams jerseys or see field time in Spring Training, the ability to get the big league feel at the expense of being the star of the show. The games leadoff on March 14th with the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona at 6:05 PM EST, followed by Orioles at Pirates at 7:05 PM EST.
For more information, click here: https://www.mlb.com/news/spring-breakout-faq-2024
