Arizona Spring Training is in full swing in the Valley. Do you attend the games?

Arizona Spring Training is in full swing, and  here are  15 reasons to get excited about this year's Cactus League line up.  Our own D-backs are set to face off against the Chicago  Cubs on Thursday, March 5 at Sloan Park in Mesa — the first pitch is at 1:05 p.m. local time. I'm split on this one. I have a lot of Cub fans in my family, but the D-Backs are my hometown team. It's a great game to catch in person since Sloan Park is one of the nicest Spring Training facilities in the Cactus League!

Check out the teams  and weigh in on your favorites by  clicking on our  current poll.

1. Arizona Diamondbacks – Salt River Fields (Scottsdale): The D-backs are in survival mode while waiting for ace Corbin Burnes and closer Justin Martinez to return from injury. Can a patched-together rotation hold things together long enough for the cavalry to arrive? It's a high-wire act all season long.
2. Colorado Rockies – Salt River Fields (Scottsdale):This is a genuine rebuild under new GM Paul DePodesta — the real-life inspiration for Moneyball's Peter Brand — returning to baseball after a decade away. Whether his analytical approach can crack the code of Coors Field is one of the most fascinating front-office experiments in the game.
3. Chicago Cubs – Sloan Park (Mesa): Coming off their best season since 2017, the Cubs signed Alex Bregman to a monster $175M deal and now boast one of baseball's best infields. Young star Pete Crow-Armstrong is poised for a breakout, and this team looks like a legitimate contender.
4. Chicago White Sox – Camelback Ranch (Phoenix/Glendale): After years of rebuilding, the Sox made a huge splash signing Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, who could challenge for AL Rookie of the Year. The young core is finally arriving — this is the year we find out if the rebuild actually worked.
5. Los Angeles Dodgers – Camelback Ranch (Phoenix/Glendale): The Dodgers added Kyle Tucker and closer Edwin Díaz to an already stacked roster. Watching this team is basically watching a superteam in real time — if you enjoy rooting for (or against) a dynasty, this is your team.
6. Cincinnati Reds – Goodyear Ballpark: Elly De La Cruz is one of the most electric young players in baseball, and adding slugger Eugenio Suárez (49 HRs last year) gives him some serious protection. The Reds quietly had one of the best rotations in baseball last year, led by ace Hunter Greene.
7. Cleveland Guardians – Goodyear Ballpark: These guys just keep winning despite having one of baseball's smallest payrolls. José Ramírez remains an MVP-caliber anchor, and the Guardians have won the AL Central three of the last four years. Following them is like watching a master class in roster construction.
8. Kansas City Royals – Surprise Stadium: KC is primed for more after hovering just above .500 the last two seasons. Their ace pitchers Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo are healthy again, and if things click, they could make a deep October run. This is a fun, young team on the verge.
9. Texas Rangers – Surprise Stadium: The Rangers have been retooling since their 2023 World Series title and are hungry to get back. Watch this spring to see how their rotation shapes up — it'll tell you everything about whether they're contenders again.
10. Los Angeles Angels – Tempe Diablo Stadium (right in your backyard!): Right in your backyard at Tempe Diablo Stadium! This is a pivotal year for the franchise — it's reportedly a make-or-break season for GM Perry Minasian, and first-time manager Kurt Suzuki (yes, that Kurt Suzuki) is in on a one-year deal. High stakes, right down the road.
11. Milwaukee Brewers – American Family Fields (Phoenix): Young outfielder Jackson Chourio is already one of the game's rising stars, and Christian Yelich is still in the mix. The Brewers consistently outperform expectations, and with a deep bullpen and solid pitching, they're quietly dangerous in the NL Central.
12. San Diego Padres – Peoria Sports Complex: The Padres have serious talent and perennial playoff aspirations. Watch this spring to see if their rotation can stay healthy and if their lineup can put it all together — when they're clicking, they're one of the most fun teams to watch in the NL.
13. Seattle Mariners – Peoria Sports Complex: Cal Raleigh is one of baseball's best catchers, Julio Rodríguez is a young superstar, and Randy Arozarena brings energy every night. The M's are in win-now mode and finally feel like they have the offense to match their always-strong pitching.
14. San Francisco Giants – Scottsdale Stadium: The Giants are a fascinating mix of veterans and youth, with Tyler Fitzgerald emerging as a potential star. They open the 2026 season on March 25 hosting the Yankees in a nationally televised standalone game — they're positioned as one of baseball's most watchable teams.
15. Athletics – Hohokam Stadium (Mesa): The A's are in a transitional moment, still in Sacramento but previewing their Las Vegas future. Rookies Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson broke out in 2025 and are worth tracking as the next generation of a franchise in full reinvention.