With the 2016 World Series just getting underway, it may still seem too early to be thinking about 2017 Spring Training. Then again, with the St. Louis Cardinals missing the post-season for the first time in five years, perhaps thoughts of Florida in February and March are appropriate, after all.
While full spring game schedules for the major league club may not be announced until after the post-season concludes, bits and pieces of the Cardinals spring plans are becoming known. With the help of springtrainingonline.com, here is the first cut at the schedule.
| Day | Date | Opponent | Location | Time | |
| Fri | 24 Feb | ||||
| Sat | 25 Feb | ||||
| Sun | 26 Feb | Marlins | Jupiter | ||
| Mon | 27 Feb | ||||
| Tue | 28 Feb | ||||
| Wed | 01 Mar | ||||
| Thu | 02 Mar | ||||
| Fri | 03 Mar | at Nationals | Palm Beach | ||
| Sat | 04 Mar | ||||
| Sun | 05 Mar | ||||
| Mon | 06 Mar | ||||
| Tue | 07 Mar | ||||
| Wed | 08 Mar | ||||
| Thu | 09 Mar | ||||
| Fri | 10 Mar | at Nationals | Palm Beach | ||
| Sat | 11 Mar | ||||
| Sun | 12 Mar | “at” Marlins | Jupiter | ||
| Mon | 13 Mar | ||||
| Tue | 14 Mar | ||||
| Wed | 15 Mar | ||||
| Thu | 16 Mar | ||||
| Fri | 17 Mar | at Mets | Pt. St. Lucie | ||
| Sat | 18 Mar | ||||
| Sun | 19 Mar | at Braves | Disney | ||
| Mon | 20 Mar | ||||
| Tue | 21 Mar | ||||
| Wed | 22 Mar | ||||
| Thu | 23 Mar | ||||
| Fri | 24 Mar | at Nationals | Palm Beach | ||
| Sat | 25 Mar | ||||
| Sun | 26 Mar | “at” Marlins | Jupiter | ||
| Mon | 27 Mar | ||||
| Tue | 28 Mar | ||||
| Wed | 29 Mar | ||||
| Thu | 30 Mar | at Memphis | Memphis | TBA | |
| Fri | 31 Mar | at Springfield | Springfield | 5:05 | |
| Sat | 01 Apr | ||||
| Sun | 02 Apr | ||||
| Mon | 03 Apr | Cubs | St. Louis | 3:05 | reg season opener |
With the World Baseball Classic coming at around the same time (exact dates TBA), MLB spring schedules will be adjusted accordingly. Exhibitions may be scheduled as well as camp disruption from players temporarily leaving to play for their homeland.
I am excited about the opening of the new complex to be shared by the Astros and Nationals as Ballpark of the Palm Beaches remains on track to open in the spring. The Cardinals will play there for the first time no later than Friday, March 3 against the NL East Champions.
As had been previously announced, the Cardinals will close camp in Florida by Wednesday, March 28, as they conclude their spring exhibition campaign with single games at their top two minor league affiliates. AutoZone Park and the Memphis Redbirds will host St. Louis on Thursday, March 30 and Hammons Field fans will welcome St. Louis for a contest with Double-A Springfield on Friday, March 31.
The Cardinals will open the 2017 regular season at home against the NL Champion Chicago Cubs on Monday, April 3.
As more information is known about the Cardinals spring training plans, including when tickets will go on sale, as well as television and radio schedules, you know where to find it. Of course, everything to date is unofficial and is subject to change.
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