Extended Spring Training

Today we went to Surprise to experience "extended spring training". It may be 97 degrees outside, but technically it is still spring! The Kansas City Royals team was hosting the Seattle Mariners on their practice fields at 10:30am. There were teams playing on two fields, the George Brett Field and the Frank Field. It is my understanding that the teams consisted mostly of players at all levels who may be in need of rehab. The game was free and we had a great time watching two games at once! We were, I believe, the only "fans" at the field. Nearly everyone else in the stands was wielding a speed gun. The pitching dummies were surreal.

Tracy had a conversation with Victor Soto, a second baseman from the rookie league Burlington Royals of the Applachian League, who was grabbing some shade near a light standard. He was here because he had broken a bone in his left hand; he had taken some ground balls and was supposed to be able to start some hitting in a week. He is from the Dominican Republic.

Tomorrow is "Camp Day" according to the information on the Mariners website. I'm not sure what that means but it will be hot enough that they won't have to have a campfire to roast marshmallows and make S'mores.