spring training

American  

noun

1. a program of physical exercise, practice, and exhibition games followed by a baseball team in the late winter and early spring, before the start of the regular season.

2. the period during which such a program takes place, usually from the beginning of March until the middle of April.

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Etymology

Origin of spring training

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spring training

Remember how Roger Clemens used to wander back to baseball after letting the rest of those suckers suffer through spring training and the early schedule?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Alfonzo’s familiarity with the Dodgers’ pitching staff from spring training has helped provide some stability in Smith’s absence.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

When spring training rolled around, the only question left was whether the work would pay off.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

One day during spring training, Preston was sitting in Thomson’s office when Dombrowski asked him to call in Don.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 20, 2026

Ever since, Crandall’s spring training, like charity, has begun at home, and he takes exercise night and morning throughout the winter, so that when he comes into camp his weight will be somewhere near normal.

From Pitching in a Pinch or, Baseball from the Inside by Mathewson, Christy