Pittsburgh Pirates: Important dates-to-know before 2018 Spring Training

BRADENTON, FL - MARCH 15: Manager Clint Hurdle #13 of the Pittsburgh Pirates signs autographs prior to the start of a spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles on March 15, 2017 at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
BRADENTON, FL - MARCH 15: Manager Clint Hurdle #13 of the Pittsburgh Pirates signs autographs prior to the start of a spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles on March 15, 2017 at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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The Pittsburgh Pirates are gearing up for the 2018 MLB Season, but they first have to go through Spring Training. Here are some dates you need-to-know.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are getting awfully close to their 2018 Spring Training schedule, as their pitchers and catchers report to practice in exactly one week. In case you’ve already forgotten, the Bucs will be under a microscope, as they’ll be without Andrew McCutchen for the first time in nearly ten years after he was traded to the San Fransisco Giants this offseason.

If there’s ever been a time for the Pirates young and talented players to step-up, this is it.

After finishing the 2017 MLB season in fourth place of the NL Central, Pittsburgh obviously has a ton of work to do throughout Spring Training. This is a roster full of adequate talent, but nonetheless, they’ll need to continue getting better if Pittsburgh wants to make the postseason in 2018.

With that said, here are the dates to you need-to-know over the next few weeks.

Important Dates:

Monday, February 12th: Pitchers and catchers report

Wednesday, February 14th: Pitchers and catchers’ first workout of 2018 Spring Training

Sunday, February 18th: Positional players report

Monday, February 19th: First full-squad workout of 2018 Spring Training

In just one week, the Pirates pitchers and catchers will report for duty, which means you can officially start getting excited for baseball. Not only does that mean warmer weather is on it’s way, but you’ll have something and someone to root for almost every night of the week.

Also, in exactly two weeks, the Pirates will get everyone on the field together for the first time in 2018. Pittsburgh knows they must improve to compete with the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers. Needless to say, that effort begins now.

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If you find yourself craving some baseball-action during Spring Training, check out the best way to watch every Pirates preseason game on MLB TV. Do yourself a favor and don’t wait, because the price is currently very affordable.