February is upon is, and that means baseball season is right around the corner!
Well, spring training is anyway.
We all survived the long, harsh non-baseball months of December and January, and in just a few short days we’ll all rejoice to hear the crack of the bats, the pop of the gloves, and see all of our favorite players take the field once again.
The Colorado Rockies had a surprisingly busy offseason, so fans are very eager to see how they “walk the walk” after “talking the talk” since November. We will get our first look at how Paul DePodesta’s, Josh Byrnes’ and Warren Schaeffer’s visions for this team play out on the field along with all of the new faces they’ve signed.
But if you are planning to make the trek out to Arizona, here are some things to keep in mind as you descend on the Valley of the Sun.
Where do the Rockies play?
The Rockies share Salt River Fields at Talking Stick with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The stadium opened in 2011, so it is the second-newest stadium in the Cactus League. It is located at 7555 N Pima Rd in Scottsdale.
(For insights on each individual stadium, you can re-read my ballpark guide from 2020.)
Fun Fact: The Phoenix metro area has the greatest concentration of professional sports stadiums in the United States, with all 10 Cactus League stadiums located within 47 miles of each other.
How can you get in on the action?
Pitchers and catchers report on Thursday, February 12, and the full squad will have their first workout on Tuesday, February 17.
Workouts are free and open to the public. They take place from 9am-12:30pm local time on the backfields of SRF, and they’re a great way to get up close to your favorite players and potentially score some autographs. I personally got autographs from Patrick Corbin, Braden Shipley, Paul Goldschmidt, David Peralta, and Robbie Ray from hanging out in the backfields.
As far as games go, the first one is on Friday, February 20 at 1:10pm MST against their stadium-mates, the Arizona Diamondbacks. As is tradition, they will play their first two games against the Snakes — the first “home” and the second “away.” Some other highlights include an exhibition game against Team USA on Wednesday, March 4 and Spring Breakout on Saturday, March 21. You can buy tickets here.
If you can’t make it to Scottsdale, you can still watch and/or listen to select games. The Rockies haven’t released their schedule, but Thomas Harding reported that nine games will be broadcast on Rockies.TV, and 13 will be broadcast on 850 AM/94.1FM KOA Rockies Radio Network.
Who are some of the players to keep an eye on?
While the non-roster invitee list hasn’t been released yet, there are plenty of new faces. Some of the players fans should keep an eye on include
- LHP Brennan Bernardino
- RHP Michael Lorenzen
- OF Jake McCarthy
- UTL Willi Castro
- INF Edouard Julien
Additionally, there are plenty of PuRPs who will be in and around the complex — either on the 40-man, as NRI’s, or in minor league camp. Here’s the list that has been revealed so far.
There will be numerous positional battles, as well, with the new-look Rockies. Not all of the players who ended 2025 on the active roster will make the Opening Day roster. Some might begin in Triple-A as the Rockies work on rebuilding from the studs up.
What else can I do in Phoenix?
Great question! There are so many good things to check out! Here are some of my recommendations:
Restaurants, Bars and Shopping
About a mile west of Salt River Fields is the Mercado Del Lago Mall. It’s a small outdoor area with some of my favorite restaurants, including the famous Butters Pancakes & Café as well as my new favorite spot, PHX Beer Co.
Old Town Scottsdale is not too far from Salt River Fields — about 15 minutes south. It’s also where the San Francisco Giants play their games. It’s home to numerous restaurants, bars and shops. Most of the shops are “Old West” style gift shops, but Baseballism is right in the heart of it. Additionally, Scottsdale Fashion Square — the largest mall I think I’ve ever been inside — is right up the road and Scottsdale Civic Center Park is a great outdoor space to hang out in.
As far as restaurants and bars in Old Town goes, some of my personal favorites include Goldwater Brewing Co., Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers, The Sugar Bowl and Brat Haus.
If you want to head a little north (15 min) or a little south (15 min), you can hit one of the outdoor malls. Desert Ridge Marketplace is located in North Scottsdale and Tempe Marketplace is located in Tempe (and is right next door to Sloan Park, home of the Chicago Cubs). Tempe is also home to some of my favorite breweries: Four Peaks Brewing, Six Byrd Cider Co., and Catalyst Crafted Ales.
It is worth noting that Maricopa County police take DUI very seriously. If you’re going to go out drinking — please have a designated driver or take an Uber, Lyft or Waymo.
Phoenix is home to many museums and entertainment options, and they’re all top notch. My personal favorite is the Musical Instrument Museum, home to the largest collection of musical instruments in the western hemisphere. Allow plenty of time to go through it, though — I’ve been four times, and I still don’t think I’ve gotten through all of it. Currently, they have an exhibit on the history of the flute.
Right across the freeway from Salt River Fields is OdySea Aquarium. There is the main aquarium, as well as an outdoor “Riverwalk” area that hosts shops as well as a butterfly pavilion (all for an extra cost, of course). Additionally, Medieval Times has a setup just north of the stadium. I haven’t been there yet, but it’s on my list, and my friends who have gone have all loved it!
In Central Phoenix, you’ll find the Heard Museum — the pre-eminent museum of Native American art in the US — as well as the Arizona Science Center. You could also catch a Phoenix Symphony concert, or watch Come From Away at the Phoenix Theatre Company.
Finally, the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting is a bit south in Tempe, nearby Phoenix Municipal Stadium if you are hoping to catch an ASU Baseball game.
The weather in February and March is absolutely beautiful and a great time to be in the beautiful desert outdoors. I personally love the Desert Botanical Gardens and the Phoenix Zoo. They are next to each other, so you might be able to do a doubleheader! (I would start with the Zoo first, as they close earlier.)
Pro tip: The Desert Botanical Gardens hosts “pay what you can” community day on the second Tuesday of every month. Normally tickets are between $32.95-$39.95 for adults, and $14.95-$19.95 for children 3-17. Children under 2 are free.
There is also plenty of hiking around The Valley. Camelback Mountain is obviously the most famous hike (for a good reason), but you could also venture out into East Mesa for the Superstition Mountains or up into Fountain Hills for the McDowells (the mountains you can see from SRF).
If you’re a golfer (I am not), there are plenty of golf courses around, as well.
Finally, there are two music festivals happening as well: the Innings Festival (Feb. 20-22) and the Extra Innings Festival (Feb. 27-28). Both of these take place at Tempe Beach Park, and include both musical artists and baseball-type people.
As someone who has lived in the Phoenix area off and on for about 15 years, there really is nothing like the Valley of the Sun. There’s a reason I came back after six years away. It’s a big city with plenty of things to do, but not so big like Los Angeles that it’s challenging to do anything without extensive planning. Phoenix’s freeway system makes everything drivable within 30-60 minutes, but there are also plenty of public transit options as well.
If you make the trek, let me know in the comments, and I’m happy to offer some more recommendations!
Have you been out to Arizona for spring training? What are some of your recommendations? Let us know!