The temperature will rise to 70 degrees on what promises to be a sun-splashed Sunday afternoon in Clearwater, Florida as the Philadelphia Phillies kick off the 2016 season with an exhibition game today against the University of Tampa.
On what will also be a mild, sunny day back here in Philadelphia on which temperatures are expected to rise to 60 degrees, there will be a definite sense that Punxsutawney Phil got it right just over three weeks ago when he predicted it would be an early spring.
There will be fans in the stands and a festive atmosphere when the Phillies burst from their dugout at Bright House Field, and the first University of Tampa Spartans batter steps into the box against new right-handed starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (pictured), who played much of his career with the Tampa Bay Rays.