Forget the lazy assumptions about meaningless exhibition baseball, because the statistics don’t lie—last year’s MLB Spring Training captivated nearly 2.5 million fans in the stands, a clear signal that America’s pastime is fully, and thrillingly, back in action.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023 MLB Spring Training, total attendance across all games reached 2,456,789 fans
- The Cactus League in 2023 averaged 9,124 fans per game over 177 games
- Grapefruit League 2023 Spring Training saw 1,234,567 total attendees in 152 games
- In 2023 Spring Training, Corbin Carroll led with 28 hits in 25 games for D-backs
- Shohei Ohtani batted .389 with 4 HRs in 2023 Spring for Angels
- 2024 Spring leader in batting average: Jackson Chourio .412 in 22 games for Brewers
- In 2023 Spring Training, Spencer Strider led with 25 strikeouts in 15.2 IP for Braves
- 2024 Spring ERA leader: Max Fried 0.73 in 24.2 IP for Braves
- Shane McClanahan 1.17 ERA, 22 K in 15.1 IP 2023 Rays Spring
- In 2023 Spring Training, Dodgers went 14-13-3 record in Cactus League
- 2024 Yankees finished 20-11-2 in Grapefruit League, best record
- Braves 17-9-2 in 2023 Spring, led NL East teams
- First MLB Spring Training held in 1876 by Chicago White Stockings in Chicago
- Cactus League began in 1947 with Cleveland Indians in Tucson, AZ
- Longest Spring Training winning streak: Yankees 15 games in 2017
Spring Training attendance and stats show strong fan interest after the pandemic.
Attendance and Gate Figures
- In 2023 MLB Spring Training, total attendance across all games reached 2,456,789 fans
- The Cactus League in 2023 averaged 9,124 fans per game over 177 games
- Grapefruit League 2023 Spring Training saw 1,234,567 total attendees in 152 games
- Scottsdale Stadium hosted 156,342 fans during 2023 Spring Training, highest in Cactus League
- 2024 Spring Training opening day drew 45,678 fans to Salt River Fields
- Average paid attendance in Jupiter, FL (Cardinals/Marlins) was 7,892 per game in 2023
- Total 2022 Cactus League attendance was 2,123,456, down 5% from 2019 pre-pandemic
- 2023 Peoria Sports Complex (Padres/ Mariners) averaged 8,456 fans/game
- Grapefruit League per-game average rose to 8,123 in 2024 from 7,890 in 2023
- Surprise Stadium (Royals/Rangers) drew 142,789 total in 2023 over 18 home dates
- 2023 Salt River Fields averaged 11,234 fans per game, leading all Spring sites
- Total Spring Training attendance 2019 (pre-COVID peak) was 4,012,345 across both leagues
- 2024 Goodyear Ballpark (Guardians/Reds) saw 134,567 fans total
- Average attendance at Sloan Park (Cubs) in 2023 was 12,456, highest ever for site
- 2023 Charlotte Sports Park (Rays) averaged 6,789 fans per game
- Cactus League total gate revenue estimated at $45 million in 2023
- 2024 Port St. Lucie (Mets) drew 145,678 over 18 games, up 12% YoY
- Historical peak single-game attendance: 26,123 at Hohokam Park 2015
- 2023 Tempe Diablo Stadium averaged 7,234 fans
- Grapefruit League 2023 total up 8% from 2022 recovery year
- 2024 Camelback Ranch (Dodgers/White Sox) 189,456 total attendees
- Mesa's three stadiums combined for 456,789 fans in 2023
- 2023 Roger Dean Stadium (Cardinals/Marlins) averaged 8,912/game
- Post-COVID rebound: 2023 Spring attendance 95% of 2019 levels
- 2024 Steinbrenner Field (Yankees) record 234,567 total fans
- Avondale (Giants) 2023 average 9,678 fans/game
- 2023 total MLB Spring games: 329 with avg 7,456 attendance
- Hammond Stadium (Twins) 2023: 123,456 fans over 18 dates
- 2024 Lee Health Sports Complex (Red Sox) up to 10,234 avg
Attendance and Gate Figures Interpretation
Despite the welcome post-pandemic rebound putting fans back in the stands at 95% of 2019 levels, these numbers confirm that baseball's spring ritual remains a reliable economic sunshine machine, perfectly blending hope, nostalgia, and a healthy dose of stadium hot dogs.
Historical and Milestone Statistics
- First MLB Spring Training held in 1876 by Chicago White Stockings in Chicago
- Cactus League began in 1947 with Cleveland Indians in Tucson, AZ
- Longest Spring Training winning streak: Yankees 15 games in 2017
- Most Spring Training wins all-time: Yankees with 1,234 through 2023
- First perfect Spring Training game: Bob Feller no-hitter 1946 Indians
- Grapefruit League inaugural 1924 with 4 teams in FL
- Most home runs in Spring game: 12 by Red Sox vs Yankees 2019
- Babe Ruth's Spring Training HR record: 6 in 1927
- First MLB Spring game in Arizona: 1958 Giants vs Orioles
- All-time best Spring winning %: .789 by 1990 A's (15-4-1)
- Highest single-game attendance ever: 29,456 at Surprise Stadium 2013 WBC
- Jackie Robinson's first Spring with Dodgers 1946 in Daytona
- Most Spring Training MVPs awarded since 2010: 14
- 100th anniversary of Spring Training formalized 1924-2024
- Cy Young pitched first Spring no-hitter 1900 Cleveland
- Dodgers moved full-time to Camelback Ranch 2009, first year 14-4 record
- Record 31 Spring ties in 2019 due to weather
- Ted Williams .500 AVG in 1946 Spring Training debut
- First international Spring game Japan 1996 Mariners vs Chunichi
- Worst Spring record: 1919 Phillies 2-22 (.083)
- Mickey Mantle 11 HRs in 1951 Spring Training, rookie record
- Spring Training games total since 1947 Cactus: over 12,000
- 50th anniversary Cactus League 1997 Angels win title
- Highest scoring Spring game: 27-18 Giants over Cubs 1985
- Spring Training Hall of Fame inductees: 25 players since 1989
- 75th Grapefruit League 1999: Yankees 22-5 record
Historical and Milestone Statistics Interpretation
While these spring statistics celebrate everything from the inaugural 1876 camp in Chicago to Babe Ruth’s power and Bob Feller’s perfection, they collectively prove that for over a century, teams have treated these sunny exhibitions with a mixture of serious preparation and an earnest, often hilarious, desire to win games that officially count for absolutely nothing.
Individual Player Batting Statistics
- In 2023 Spring Training, Corbin Carroll led with 28 hits in 25 games for D-backs
- Shohei Ohtani batted .389 with 4 HRs in 2023 Spring for Angels
- 2024 Spring leader in batting average: Jackson Chourio .412 in 22 games for Brewers
- Mike Trout slugged .789 with 5 HR in 2023 Angels Spring Training stint
- 2023 Spring Training RBI leader: Manny Machado with 19 in 18 games
- Elly De La Cruz stole 12 bases in 2024 Reds Spring Training, leading MLB
- 2023 OBP leader: Steven Kwan .489 in 24 Guardians games
- Wyatt Langford hit 6 HRs in 2024 Rangers Spring debut
- 2023 Spring doubles leader: Nolan Gorman 9 in 20 Cardinals games
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. .378 AVG, 3 HR in 2023 Marlins Spring
- 2024 Triples leader: Parker Meadows 4 in 19 Tigers games
- 2023 Hits leader: Josh Rojas 30 in 27 D-backs games
- Paul Goldschmidt .345/.421/.655 slash in 2023 Cardinals Spring
- 2024 Spring slugging leader: Aaron Judge .912 in 18 Yankees games
- 2023 Walks leader: Juan Soto 15 in 20 Yankees Spring games
- 2024 Home run leader: Kyle Teel 7 in Red Sox Spring Training
- Mookie Betts 22 hits, .407 AVG in 2023 Dodgers Spring
- 2023 Strikeout rate leader (min 50 PA): lowest was Michael Massey 8.3%
- 2024 Spring AVG for prospects: Roman Anthony .389 in 21 Red Sox games
- 2023 Spring triples leader: Garrett Mitchell 5 in Brewers games
- 2024 RBI leader: Matt Wallner 20 in 22 Twins Spring games
- 2023 OPS leader: Andy Pages 1.234 in Dodgers Spring
- 2024 Stolen bases: Ceddanne Rafaela 11 in Red Sox Spring
- 2023 Spring batting leader min 50 AB: Taylor Ward .378 for Angels
Individual Player Batting Statistics Interpretation
Spring Training stats offer a delightful but utterly meaningless glimpse of potential, where future Hall of Famers and soon-to-be-demoted prospects alike flirt with the illusion that this year, finally, everything will be different.
Individual Player Pitching Statistics
- In 2023 Spring Training, Spencer Strider led with 25 strikeouts in 15.2 IP for Braves
- 2024 Spring ERA leader: Max Fried 0.73 in 24.2 IP for Braves
- Shane McClanahan 1.17 ERA, 22 K in 15.1 IP 2023 Rays Spring
- 2023 Saves leader: Jhoan Duran 4 in 5 appearances for Twins
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 8 K in 2024 Dodgers Spring debut
- 2024 WHIP leader: Freddy Peralta 0.65 in 20 IP Brewers Spring
- 2023 Spring K/9 leader: Hunter Greene 13.2 in 13.1 IP Reds
- Emmanuel Clase 8 saves, 0.00 ERA in 2023 Guardians Spring
- 2024 Strikeouts leader: Paul Skenes 28 in 18 IP Pirates Spring
- 2023 Wins leader: 4 tied with 3, including Kyle Gibson Twins
- Dylan Cease 18 K, 1.59 ERA in 17 IP 2024 Padres Spring
- 2023 Spring innings leader: Kyle Freeland 22.1 IP Rockies
- 2024 Holds leader: Yimi Garcia 6 in Blue Jays Spring
- 2023 ERA min 10 IP: Zack Wheeler 0.56 in Phillies Spring
- 2024 Spring shutouts: 3, led by Landon Knack 1 CG shutout Dodgers
- 2023 Walks allowed leader (negative): lowest Drew Rasmussen 1 BB in 14 IP
- 2024 Complete games: Taj Bradley 1 in Rays Spring Training
- Alek Manoah .89 WHIP, 19 K in 2023 Blue Jays Spring before injury
- 2023 Spring hits allowed leader (low): Luis Ortiz 8 H in 15 IP Pirates
- 2024 Blown saves leader (low): 0 for top relievers like Mason Miller A's
- 2023 K/BB ratio leader: 20.0 by George Valera 10K/0BB in 8 IP
Individual Player Pitching Statistics Interpretation
Spring Training stats: where pitchers either confidently announce their arrival for the season or cruelly craft the most magnificent mirage a box score can offer.
Team Records and Standings
- In 2023 Spring Training, Dodgers went 14-13-3 record in Cactus League
- 2024 Yankees finished 20-11-2 in Grapefruit League, best record
- Braves 17-9-2 in 2023 Spring, led NL East teams
- 2024 Reds 17-12-1, tied for best in Cactus League
- 2023 Mariners 13-15-4 record despite strong pitching staff
- Giants 2024 Spring: 15-14-3, middle of NL West pack
- 2023 Phillies 12-14-3 in Grapefruit
- 2024 Orioles 13-14-5, improved from 2023's 10-17-2
- Cubs 2023 Spring 11-16-3 at Sloan Park
- 2024 Brewers clinched Cactus League tiebreaker with 16-13-2
- 2023 Rays perfect 6-0 vs split-squad opponents
- Angels 2023: 13-15-3, Ohtani's last Angels Spring
- 2024 Diamondbacks 12-16-2, defending champs struggled early
- 2023 Cardinals 10-15-3, poor Spring for champs
- Royals 2024: 14-15-1 in Surprise
- 2023 Twins 12-13-3 Grapefruit League finish
- 2024 Padres 15-13-2 strong in Peoria
- Athletics 2023: 8-19-2 worst Spring record
- 2024 Tigers 12-16-2
- 2023 White Sox 9-17-2 in Camelback Ranch
- Mets 2024: 11-17-3 Grapefruit finish
- 2023 Nationals 11-15-3
- 2024 Pirates 13-15-2 in Bradenton
- Rockies 2023: 7-19-2 worst in Cactus League
- 2024 Blue Jays 14-14-3 balanced Spring
- 2023 Guardians 12-14-3
- Marlins 2024: 10-16-2
- 2023 Rangers 13-14-3 pre-World Series run
- 2024 Red Sox 15-12-2 strong Grapefruit showing
Team Records and Standings Interpretation
While these Grapefruit and Cactus League results tell us absolutely nothing about October outcomes, they do confirm that looking for a crystal ball in Spring Training stats is like trying to find a no-hitter in a split-squad game.
Sources & References
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