All 14 Grapefruit League Baseball Stadiums, Ranked

Yep , spring education .

That time of the year when every team think it can win the World Series , every manager is happy to talk to reporters ( mostly ) , and minor - league musician actually get to play with the dudes making $ 20 million a season .

And one of the best parts of spring training for a baseball reporter like myself is crisscross Florida , drive to various metropolis scattered around the Sunshine State , and taking in some of the most unequaled baseball stadiums the country has to offer . Also , trading the death of wintertime for green grass and 70 - level atmospheric condition .

space coast stadium

The Washington Post/The Washington Post/Getty Images

So , in the emotional state of MLB team regrouping to aim for another ( or a first ) World Series deed , below is a ranking of all 14 stadiums that make up the leaping training Grapefruit League .

Play ball , y’ all .

14. Space Coast Stadium – Washington Nationals

Viera , FLCoolest feature : Um , Bryce Harper?Best place to sit : It really does n’t matterThis is the last season the Nats will be at Space Coast , moving farther in the south in 2017 . And you ca n’t find fault them for wanting to desolate the lieu – it ’s an uninteresting edifice in an uninteresting location . That said , the sports stadium is minuscule ( capacity : 7,400 ) , you could get in cheap , and passably much any buns is close to the field . Plus there ’s a Tiki bar and child’s play country down the left - theatre of operations crease . But that ’s about all . Still , go this season and look on Bryce Harper , in all probability the best player in the National League . When he leave the game , feel loose to do the same .

13. Osceola County Stadium – Houston Astros

Kissimmee , FLCoolest feature : Autograph handiness ( see below)Best place to pose : If you want to avoid kids , anywhere but the terminal of correct fieldOsceola has been home to the Houston Astros since 1985 and owns the little capacity of any stadium in the league ( 5,300 ) . What ’s nerveless , though , is the clubhouses are n’t attached to the dugouts , so players have to walk by fans to get to and from . You know what that means : autograph galore . Food ? It ’s arena nutrient . And you ca n’t bring anything at bottom .

12. Charlotte Sports Park – Tampa Bay Rays

Port Charlotte , FLCoolest feature : The boxy backstopBest topographic point to sit around : Deep correct - center , under an umbrella ( Tiki bar)About an minute and 15 minutes south of Tampa , the Rays call Port Charlotte home for seven weeks in the spring and … it ’s hunky-dory . The common is kid - friendly , but the boardwalk in the outfield allows for tidy sum of shaded drunkenness and eat with a good view of the biz . The Rays have n’t been adept for a while , so drink up , and you wo n’t miss much . There is a Chick - fil - A , too . Plus earthnut butter sandwiches are for sale , for some reason , along with something called the “ Triple Play , ” said to be a mint of roast beef and ham . Sure .

T-11. Roger Dean Stadium – Miami Marlins

Jupiter , FLCoolest feature : Autograph availabilityBest place to sit : Anywhere , since the lieu is so smallRoger Dean boasts one of the most internal place setting in the Grapefruit League – the outfield wall down the foul lines are so short , players and fans are pretty much on the same level in some places . The relief pitchers are so close to the fans that they could probably touch each other . ( But , uh , do n’t ? ) Specialty food change every class – when I went , in 2012 , it was the Caribbean roast porc sandwich . It was fine . Let me fuck what it is this year .

T-11. Roger Dean Stadium – St. Louis Cardinals

Jupiter , FLCoolest feature film : Autograph availabilityBest place to sit : Anywhere , since the place is so smallYes , you ’re read the same affair as above , because the Cardinals and Marlins deal the place . When I went in 2012 , I spend the entire sentence in recondite - right subject area , near the dirty pole , drinking promiscuous beer and watching Carlos Beltran play pretty good defense for a 35 - yr - old . ( He ’s with the Yankees now . ) So head to Jupiter and if you dally your card right you’re able to see four teams play in two years .

10. George M. Steinbrenner Field – New York Yankees

Tampa , FLCoolest characteristic : The historical plaques outsideBest place to sit down : As close to the first - radical dugout as potential – the Yankees always have star playersThe Yankees have been in Tampa for 21 twelvemonth now , their arena name honoring tardy possessor George Steinbrenner . The outfield dimensions are the same as Yankee Stadium in the Bronx – 318 ft to left , 408 to center , and 314 to right . The Yankees have n’t won a World Series since 2009 ( pant ! ) but residual see to it , the squad is always sporting one of the conference ’s high payroll , meaning their players are always among the best in the league . food for thought is n’t cheap ( hey , someone has to pay A - Rod ) , and candidly , it ’s nothing particular . But when it ’s Tuesday and you ’re eating a blistering dog and it ’s 80 degrees , does that really count ?

9. Joker Marchant Stadium – Detroit Tigers

Lakeland , FLCoolest feature of speech : The orange and blue seatsBest seat to sit : Beyond left field , on the grass ( " The Berm")The Tigers have been in Lakeland since 1934 . 1934 ! They moved into Joker Marchant in 1966 ( cost : $ 360,000 ) and for many age the all - concrete place was cognise as one of the simplest , no - fuss stadium in all of Florida . But a 2002 renovation jumpstarted the joint , and included the 45 ft grassy lawn in left field know as " The Berm . " You ca n’t get any solid food into the stadium , but there is a Little Caesars Pizza , so what are you complaining about ?

8. McKechnie Field – Pittsburgh Pirates

Bradenton , FLCoolest feature : BullpensBest place to sit : Anywhere , and it ’s all really cheapMcKechnie underwent heavy upgrades in 2013 and they were much demand – the former place finger like a mellow school bowl when I was there a year before . Now , the bullpens are in the outfield and there is a 360 - degree concourse for fans to walk and look down on the rilievo pitchers . Yes , there is less access to the ease hurler , but to be honest : you do n’t know who any of those succor pitchers are anyway .

Here ’s another understanding the refurbishment were important : fans can now toast on the boardwalk or at the plaza bar for at least a half - hour after the game . Have your Uber app downloaded .

7. Ed Smith Stadium – Baltimore Orioles

Sarasota , FLCoolest feature article : Entrance at house plateBest billet to seat : Sit by the orbit , preferably in the first - base - side shadeWhen fans walk into Ed Smith at the domicile - plate entrance , the field is forthwith in view . Instagram it . Snapchat it . ( Or do n’t , and just keep walking , and live in the moment , and do n’t spend your clip at a baseball biz stare at a screen . ) you may fetch in your own food for thought , but it must be in a clear old bag . But , uh , do n’t do that either . Instead , head to Cafe 54 for sandwich and wraps or go to the Left Field Pavilion for a bison burger , skirt steak sandwich , or a brat . Plus , Baltimore ’s Esskay hot dogs are available throughout .

6. Tradition Field – New York Mets

Port St. Lucie , FLCoolest feature : The Bat HouseBest spot to sit around : Deep - correct grass shoulder , left - flying field pavilionThe outfield scoreboard is one of the largest in the league and recent renovations have made Traditional Field a with child spot to get a game . I spent five days here in 2015 and if nothing else , the channel for drinks and food were always short . ( I was work , so always just water , but still . ) Here ’s what ’s on strike : Killian ’s Red and plenty of Bud Light , plus some lemon Italian methamphetamine .

And want to hear something creepy ? There ’s a bat house at Traditional Field . No , not the woodwind instrument bat the players use to bump off base runs . A bat mansion , like A HOUSE TO KEEP BATS . REAL , LIVE BATS . Yeah , military man . Anyway , it ’s allege that 10,000 to 15,000 at-bat live comfortably in the Port St. Lucie Bat House . Good times !

5. Bright House Field – Philadelphia Phillies

Clearwater , FLCoolest feature : Tiki barBest place to sit down : Tiki barThe Phillies do spring training well , and the Tiki bar is a large part of it . Beyond left area , the barroom was build to resemble the “ pirate ship ” at Raymond James Stadium , where the NFL ’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers play . And this being a Philadelphia locale , Philly cheesesteaks are in teemingness . So , pander . And if all that fails , there ’s a Chick - fil - A , where I ate three straight day last yr and plan on doing again in a few week .

4. Hammond Stadium – Minnesota Twins

Fort Myers , FLCoolest feature : The 360 - degree boardwalk beyond the outfieldBest place to sit : Beer gardenHammond underwent a monumental redevelopment prior to the 2015 time of year , $ 48.5 million pumped into the 8,730 - derriere stadium part of the CenturyLink Sports Complex . The beer garden is cool ( it ’s exactly what you think it is ) but the waterfall fountain near the arena ’s entrance might be even good . And part of that renovation was an upgrade in intellectual nourishment . Here , start with this : the Richard Simmons Warren E. Burger ( yep ) , a funnel - tiddler ice-cream sundae ( yep ) , and a Shock Top Belgian White to wash it all down . Then do it again .

3. Florida Auto Exchange Stadium – Toronto Blue Jays

Dunedin , FLCoolest feature of speech : The Canadian home hymn ( eh?)Best place to posture : Wherever , reallyAt this point you ’ve seen virtually every other park in the Grapefruit League , and you ’re making a later - March stumble to Dunedin ( I still have fuss pronouncing this ) after spending a solar day on thespectacular Clearwater beaches , just a few miles away . The quiet neighborhoods fence the arena paint a picture a lame atmosphere inside but that ’s not the eccentric ; Toronto keeps it simple at FAES , showcasing the World Series teams of the early nineties while maintaining a modern look with upgrades to the scoreboard in the outfield and , when you take the air into the park , giant scorecard with that day ’s lineups .

2. JetBlue Park – Boston Red Sox

Fort Myers , FLCoolest feature of speech : The Green Monster ( duh)Best place to sit down : The Green Monster ( duh)The Sox have only been in JetBlue since 2012 but the berth – dubbed “ Fenway South ” – is mythologic , even if Ft Myers is n’t . I can personally attest to the solid food : there are several tents outside the stadium along the first - cornerstone side serving pubic louse cake sandwiches and … well , just get one of those . The Green Monster in left over field is broken up a little bit , earmark fan to baby-sit in hind end about midway up . It ’s fantastical . Get a Cancer bar sandwich and go sit up at the Green Monster . give thanks me later .

1. Champion Stadium – ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Atlanta Braves

Orlando , FLCoolest feature : Disney characters as concessionairesBest plaza to seat : world-wide admission lawn , third baseYou’re belike contract in a Braves game sunburnt , having walkedsix nautical mile around Magic Kingdomall good afternoon . Or that ’s happening tomorrow . Either style , Champion Stadium , particularly at nighttime , is as good as it get for baseball in March . Its aim has a Florida Spanish Mission tone with an Art Deco influence . Yes , it ’s Disney - heavy , but is that a bad matter ? Tip : figure out what “ slyness of the day ” is being served . ( Hint : it ’s based on the opposing squad . )

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Ryan Hatch is a Yankees beat writer . He live in New York City . Twitter:@ryanhatch .