MLB preseason excitement hits its stride as spring training play kicks off

During the grueling bore of the offseason’s winter months, the ears of every baseball fan anxiously await four important words: pitchers and catchers report.

Several weeks ago, after months of waiting, the exciting time finally arrived for baseball fans as the batterymates began to trickle into spring training camp. While the widely-anticipated arrival of the first players is already getting behind us, a newer – and even more exciting – development is taking place at MLB complexes: the start of preseason play.

For many baseball fans at Oakton, the last ten days have presented a whirlwind of excitement as their favorite teams and players get into the action. Junior Davis Mahony was happy to share some of his own excitement leading up to preseason play, describing the sentiment of baseball returning as “pure bliss.”

“I’ve been keeping up with my favorite team, the [St. Louis] Cardinals, for the entire off season, and its going to be awesome to see their newest players out on the diamond,” said Mahony.

This excitement to watch the new players is matched by the passion of many at Oakton to keep up with some of their old favorites. For freshman John Dornbusch, getting to watch some of his favorite players on the Orioles is keeping him pumped for the spring.

“Adam Jones is probably my favorite player on the O’s,” said Dornbusch. “With spring training coming around, it’s cool to watch [him and] the other players get back out there.”

Beyond the fun of the preseason, however, has also been a fair share of early heartbreaks for many fans. While a baseball season is sure to include its fair share of ups and downs, some baseball fanatics at Oakton have been surprised by the disappointments which the early part of the preseason has already presented.

Even Mahony’s Cardinals, who have consistently performed as one of the best teams in the league during recent years, have had their own share of bad luck in the early goings. One of the key contributors from the recent run of success – starting shortshop Jhonny Peralta – went down this past week with an injured thumb that looks to keep him out until the middle of the regular season.

“I was devastated to see [Peralta] go down like that, and especially during a time of year when the game’s don’t even matter that much,” remarked Mahony.

However, as disappointing as early spring injuries might be, the optimism of the preseason still allows a lot of room for hope.

In the case of the Cardinals, and their fans like Mahony, Peralta’s injury could provide a new opportunity for the team. “Even though Peralata is out now,” Mahony said, “there’s still a chance to watch some of the other new and young guys play instead. Thanks to the injury, I’ll now get a chance to watch one of the Cardinals’ additions from the off-season, [Jedd Gyorko] from the San Diego Padres, who I was most excited to see play.”

All in all, this spring training looks to be an exciting time for fans of the Cardinals, Orioles, and all other 28 teams. While injuries are certain to plague even the most well-protected teams, the opportunities provided by those losses, along with the countless other developments of the preseason, could have a positive impacts on both the fans and the season.

Spring training is a time for excitement, fun, and looking forward to season ahead. And just as fans spent the winter looking forward to the four years which signify this time of year, now all that’s left is to wait for the two words which define the rest of the season:

Opening Day.