Clint Hurdle‘s gang gets their spring slate underway at noon Monday, Feb. 29 with their annual “Black and Gold” intrasquad game. They begin their Grapefruit League schedule Tuesday, March 1 against the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida.
The Grapefruit League home opener for Pittsburgh is Wednesday, March 2 in a rematch with the Tigers at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Florida. The Pirates have played their Spring Training match-ups there since 1969. Bradenton is the 16th different training site used by the Bucs since 1900.
The Pirates’ 31-game spring schedule has 16 contests at McKechnie Field.