Spring training games can be quite the mixed bag.
Lineups change constantly, especially at the beginning of the exhibition season. Players are gradually building their strength in camp, with names like Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman showing up one day, while Mookie Betts and Kyle Tucker might make an appearance the next. If they do play, they’re often limited to just a couple of at-bats.
Honestly, attending a game at the Dodgers’ spring training stadium in Phoenix might feel like a medieval endurance test. The main stadium at Camelback Ranch faces southeast, which means the sun is relentless in most seats. And with not much shade to speak of, spectators tend to gravitate toward the luxury suites and the area beneath the press box.
Sure, there are other, maybe even better facilities in the Cactus League. But this place has its own charm, I think.
Starting Friday, the Dodgers will have morning practices that fans can attend free of charge.
Fans can head to the practice field around 10 a.m. most days.
The Dodgers’ complex is unique in baseball. Even the White Sox, who share the space at Camelback Ranch, don’t have a setup quite like this one.
The White Sox utilize a tunnel connecting their clubhouse to the practice field, keeping fans at a distance. In contrast, the Dodgers’ design encourages player interaction. Players must walk down a dirt path with just waist-high steel barricades separating them from the fans. Some will even take a moment to sign autographs or snap photos.
There’s this distinct sense of closeness to the players that you don’t quite get at other camps. It feels a bit like high school games, where you might find a crowd gathered behind the backstop on the practice field.
And those players? They’re right there.
A small crowd might form near the bullpen mound, and again, the players are just steps away.
What will I see today? I’m not sure.
A line of executives gathered by the mound in a minor league backfield? Maybe they’re sizing up Aki Sasaki’s potential return or checking in on Tanner Scott’s recovery from a rough previous season.
A middle-aged man in a uniform chatting with reporters? Is it Andre Ethier, a former player now visiting as a guest instructor?
Can you hear that? Ohtani is likely nearby.
Do fans run from one field to another? I wouldn’t be surprised if Ohtani made a sudden move.
Remember when Tony Gonsolin twisted his ankle during practice, causing him to miss the season opener? That was a tough break. And long before that, the Minor League Player of the Year for the organization suffered a broken leg in a “B” game.
The Dodgers made the switch to this facility in 2009 under Frank McCourt, moving from Vero Beach, Florida. Its proximity to Los Angeles led to record attendance during the exhibition season.
Many stars have walked its dirt paths—Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Clayton Kershaw. Once, Sandy Koufax was a regular visitor.
But then there’s Ohtani, who joined the Dodgers before the 2024 season—he’s really changed the vibe here.
The crowds are swelling. And, oddly enough, the number of tourists from Japan seems to be increasing too. Every practice feels like a significant event now.
Yet, the Dodgers’ corner of the complex still retains that warm, inviting charm.
McCourt at least got that part right.
