The sights and smells of the ballpark — the hot dogs, the grass, the crack of the bat, the sound of the ball falling into a glove — are near.
Pitchers and catchers are reporting this week in Goodyear, Ariz., as the Guardians begin their first camp under a manager not named Terry Francona in more than a decade.
The Guardians will have a few workouts before opening their Cactus League slate for 2024 on Feb. 24 against the Cincinnati Reds. It’s all in preparation for March 28, when new manager Stephen Vogt and the Guardians open the 2024 season in Oakland.
After an 11-game road trip to open the season, the Guardians will battle the Chicago White Sox and a total solar eclipse on April 8 in their home opener.
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Here’s the first projection for what the Guardians’ Opening Day roster might look like by the end of spring camp.
Catchers (2): Bo Naylor, Austin Hedges
Bo Naylor gets his first full season in the majors after posting an .809 OPS in 67 games last year. The Guardians will be able to see what Naylor can do with his offensive skillset and more playing time, as well as how he handles the rigors of catching a much higher volume of innings in the majors.