Thursday, February 06

A Cardinals franchise that prided itself on being a consistent contender for decades is doing things a bit differently this season, scaling back payroll, eschewing splashy free-agent signings and focusing more on youth development than trying to win a potential 12th World Series title.

That doesn’t mean their expectations of winning and getting to the playoffs have changed one bit, St. Louis players and management still say with conviction.

“The team we’re putting on the field in 2025 will look different than normal, but that’s a good thing,” said Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, who returns for his fourth season as skipper. “It’s a group that is truly passionate about playing this game in the right way and there’s youthfulness to it.

“When there’s clarity to the direction, everybody can buy in and go hard. Our players are energized by that.”

Those players will start hitting the fields for Spring Training at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., next week. With that in mind, here is a Spring Training primer for fans excited about baseball’s imminent return:   

When is the first workout for pitchers and catchers?

Pitchers and catchers will report to Spring Training on Tuesday, and they will be on the fields the next day for their first official workouts. Many of the team’s pitchers and catchers have already been in Jupiter for weeks, meaning the much-celebrated day will be an extension of the work they have already been putting in.

What is the date of the first full-squad workout?

The first full-squad workout for the 2025 Cardinals will be on Feb. 17. Whether or not superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado -- who has been discussed in trade rumors -- will be there or not on Feb. 17 remains to be seen.

Where is the team’s facility?

The Cardinals are beginning their 27th season at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., which they share with the Marlins. Plans to renovate the stadium and both teams' clubhouses beyond the stadium fences were pushed back a year, but are scheduled to begin at the end of March. Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium is located at 4751 Main Street, Jupiter, FL 33458. For more stadium information, check out mlb.com/roger-dean-chevrolet-stadium.

Can fans attend workouts?

Fans will have access to watch Cardinals players work out and potentially get autographs at the practice fields behind the stadium starting on Wednesday at 9 a.m. Admittance is free. Fan parking is in the grassy areas beyond the outfield fences, and it is also complimentary.

Who are some new faces fans should know?

Paul Goldschmidt, Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson and Andrew Kittredge are some of the veteran faces who have moved on this offseason. The most celebrated new face might be hitting coach Brant Brown, who has already spent time in Jupiter this winter working with Jordan Walker, Masyn Winn, Pedro Pagés and Victor Scott II.

Who are some of the top prospects invited to Major League camp?

Each of the Cards' three most recent first-round Draft picks -- shortstop JJ Wetherholt (2024), outfielder Chase Davis (2023) and left-handed pitcher Cooper Hjerpe (2022) -- will participate in big league camp. They will be joined by 2024 MiLB Minor League Pitcher of the Year Quinn Mathews, 2024 Texas League MVP and Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year Jimmy Crooks and standout catching prospect Leonardo Bernal.

Five players who were acquired this offseason or late last season will also report with the big leaguers: Right-handed pitcher Michael Gomez, left-handed pitcher Oddanier Mosqueda, catcher Chance Sisco, infielder Jose Barrero and outfielder Ryan Vilade.

When is the team’s first Grapefruit League game?

The Cards will technically be the “away” team on Feb. 22 when they face the Marlins, their fellow co-tenants at Roger Dean Stadium. They will be the “home” team on Feb. 23 when they host the Astros.

What are a few other notable spring games?

The Cardinals will head to Florida’s West Coast early in Spring Training when they play the Blue Jays in Dunedin (Feb. 25) and Goldschmidt and the Yankees in Tampa (Feb. 26).

The Cardinals host the Mets, winners in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, on Feb. 24, March 4 and March 12. Goldschmidt and the Yankees visit Roger Dean Stadium on March 9, while the Blue Jays make the journey to Jupiter on March 15. 

The Redbirds have split-squad games on March 4 (vs. the Mets; at Nats) and March 21 (vs. Astros; at Mets).

What is Spring Breakout and when is the game?

MLB introduced the inaugural Spring Breakout last March, and it proved to be a big hit with fans and MLB clubs. This season’s four-day event, featuring some of MLB’s top Minor League talent, will run from March 13-16. It will be used to showcase each team’s top prospects and Minor League talent, and those squads will face top up-and-coming talent from other teams.

The Cardinals’ top prospects will face the Marlins’ top young talent at Roger Dean Stadium on March 14.

Will the Cardinals’ Spring Training games be televised?

The newly named FanDuel Sports Network, formerly known as Bally Sports Midwest, has yet to release its broadcast schedule, but a spokesman told MLB.com that the Cardinals’ second game of Spring Training -- against the Astros on Feb. 23 -- will be aired by the network. New this year is that all Spring Training games televised by FanDuel Sports Network will be available as direct-to-consumer items on the FDSN app. Pricing for the DTC broadcasts will be released soon, per the spokesman.

When is the club’s last Spring Training game in Florida?

The Cardinals wrap up their Spring Training schedule on March 23 when they host the Nationals. Not long after that, construction crews will begin revamping Roger Dean Stadium.

Will there be any additional exhibitions before the regular season?

As a final tune-up before Opening Day, the Cardinals will face their Triple-A affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds, on March 24 at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis. The game will be played 25 years after the first time the Cards faced the Redbirds in Memphis.

What are the details for Opening Day?

The Cardinals will host Opening Day at Busch Stadium for the third time in the past four seasons. They will face off against the Twins at 3:15 PM CT on March 27.

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