Atlanta Braves Preseason Schedule: How Spring Training Works for Fans in Atlanta
If you follow the Atlanta Braves, the term “preseason” usually means one thing: Spring Training. While the team plays its exhibition schedule in Florida, the calendar still matters a lot to fans in Atlanta, Georgia—especially if you’re planning a trip, watching from home, or getting ready for the first regular-season home game at Truist Park.
Below is a clear guide to how the Atlanta Braves preseason schedule typically works, what Atlanta fans should look for each year, and how to plan around it.
What the Braves “Preseason” Actually Includes
For most MLB teams, including the Braves, the preseason breaks down into three parts:
- Pitchers & catchers report (Spring Training opens)
- Full-squad workouts
- Grapefruit League games (exhibition games in Florida)
Even though these games aren’t played in Atlanta, they shape everything that happens when the Braves return to Cobb County for the regular season.
Typical Timeline for the Atlanta Braves Preseason
Exact dates change every year, but the flow is fairly consistent. Here’s what Atlanta fans can expect most seasons.
Key Phases of the Braves Preseason
| Phase | Typical Timing (Each Year) | What It Means for Atlanta Fans |
|---|---|---|
| Pitchers & Catchers Report | Mid–February | First sign baseball is back; camp officially opens |
| Full Squad Reports | A few days after pitchers & catchers | Position players join; competitions heat up |
| Spring Training Games Start | Late February | Grapefruit League schedule begins in Florida |
| Spring Training Games End | Late March | Final roster decisions before Opening Day |
| Opening Day (Regular Season) | Late March or very early April | Braves begin regular-season schedule |
| First Home Game at Truist | Usually within first 1–2 weeks of season | First chance for Atlanta in-person regular-season action |
📝 Tip for Atlanta fans: The full preseason schedule is usually released several months before Spring Training, often in late summer or fall of the previous year. If you’re trying to plan travel or time off, that’s when you’ll start to see concrete dates.
Where the Braves Play Preseason Games
The Atlanta Braves hold Spring Training in North Port, Florida, not in Atlanta. Their complex is:
CoolToday Park
18800 S. West Villages Parkway
North Port, FL 34293
This is where:
- Players report for camp
- Most Grapefruit League home games are played
- Many fan-friendly events (autographs, open workouts) take place
From Atlanta, North Port is generally:
- About 500+ miles by car, depending on your route
- A full-day drive (often 8–9+ hours of driving time)
- Also reachable via flight into nearby airports (like Sarasota-Bradenton) and then driving
If you live in Atlanta and want to catch the team before the regular season, a Spring Training road trip can be a fun option, but it requires more planning than just heading to Truist Park.
How to Find the Current Braves Preseason Schedule
Because dates, opponents, and times change each year, the exact Atlanta Braves preseason schedule is always time-sensitive.
To see the most up-to-date schedule, Atlanta fans typically:
- Check the Braves’ official schedule (full preseason + regular season)
- Look at Grapefruit League listings for game dates in Florida
- Verify game times close to travel dates (times can occasionally shift)
When you look up the schedule, you’ll usually see:
- Home vs. away Spring Training games (all in Florida or nearby)
- Split-squad games (the Braves may play two games on one day with different lineups)
- Occasional off days in the middle of the schedule
For planning from Atlanta, focus on:
- Which dates are weekend games if you’re considering travel
- Whether there are back-to-back home games at CoolToday Park
- How late the final preseason games are scheduled before Opening Day
How the Preseason Affects Braves Fans in Atlanta
Even though the games aren’t in Georgia, the Spring Training schedule still has a real impact on fans in Atlanta.
1. Planning Around Opening Day and Truist Park
The preseason schedule leads directly into:
- MLB Opening Day
- The Braves’ first home series at Truist Park
Once the preseason schedule is set, you can usually infer:
- When the team will arrive back in Atlanta
- When the first homestand is scheduled
- How much time you’ll have between final Spring Training games and the home opener
This helps Atlanta residents:
- Request time off work for Opening Day
- Arrange parking, rideshares, or MARTA plans to the Battery Atlanta / Truist Park area
- Decide whether to attend early-season weekday vs. weekend games
The Braves’ home stadium in Atlanta is:
Truist Park
755 Battery Avenue SE
Atlanta, GA 30339
2. TV, Radio, and Streaming from Atlanta
Not every preseason game is televised, but many are available in some form. From Atlanta, fans often:
- Follow televised Spring Training games on regional sports networks
- Listen to radio broadcasts through familiar Braves broadcasters
- Track box scores, lineups, and highlights online if games aren’t aired
Because exhibition lineups change frequently, Spring Training broadcasts are especially useful for:
- Seeing how prospects are performing
- Watching new signings or players returning from injury
- Getting a feel for early-season form before games at Truist Park
3. Ticket Planning for Atlanta-Based Fans
The preseason schedule indirectly helps you plan regular-season ticket purchases in Atlanta:
- As Spring Training goes on, you get a clearer sense of who will be on the roster
- Popular opponents on the preseason and early-season schedule can hint at high-demand home series
- Once the regular-season schedule is paired with your own calendar, you can choose weekday vs. weekend games, promotional nights, and rivalry matchups
If you’re in Atlanta, you can:
- Visit the Truist Park box office in person closer to the season
- Use ticket outlets to plan your games after the full regular-season schedule is released
Typical Structure of the Braves Spring Training Schedule
While details change year to year, the Atlanta Braves’ preseason schedule usually follows a familiar pattern:
Reporting and Workouts
- Pitchers and catchers arrive first for conditioning and bullpen sessions
- Position players (infielders, outfielders, catchers) report shortly after
- The team goes through several days of on-field workouts, intra-squad games, and drills before playing other clubs
Fans making the trip from Atlanta sometimes choose to attend these early workouts because:
- They are often more relaxed and accessible
- You can see players from closer vantage points than in-game seating
- It’s a lower-key way to experience the team than a sold-out regular-season game in Atlanta
Grapefruit League Games
Once games start:
- The Braves play near-daily games against other clubs that train in Florida
- Lineups are often experimental, especially early in camp
- Established stars may play fewer innings, while prospects and non-roster invitees get more chances
From Atlanta, this period is when you can:
- Start forming early impressions of breakout players
- Follow position battles (for example, who might win a bench spot)
- Monitor how pitchers are stretched out in terms of innings and pitch counts
Final Week of Preseason
As Opening Day gets closer:
- Lineups start to resemble a regular-season lineup more closely
- Fringe roster decisions (bench bats, middle relievers, final rotation slot) are made
- Some veterans may get more concentrated work to tune up for the season
This is the time when Atlanta fans typically:
- Pay close attention to injury news and late roster moves
- Watch how often projected regulars are playing together
- Shift their focus from North Port back to Atlanta and Truist Park
Spring Training Travel Tips for Atlanta Fans
If you’re in Atlanta and considering a Spring Training trip to see the preseason schedule in person, a few practical notes help:
- Travel time: Plan for a full travel day each way if driving
- Weather: February and March in southwest Florida are usually warmer than Atlanta, so pack for sun and mild to hot temperatures
- Game times: Many Spring Training games are midday or early afternoon, which can affect your lodging and driving schedule
- Tickets: Spring Training games often have a more relaxed atmosphere than regular-season games, but big-name opponents or weekend dates can still sell quickly
Many Atlanta fans pair a game or two with:
- A long weekend beach trip
- Visits to other Grapefruit League parks within driving distance
- A chance to get autographs or photos that are harder to get during the regular season in Atlanta
What Atlanta Residents Should Watch for Each Preseason
To get the most from the Atlanta Braves preseason schedule while living in Atlanta, keep an eye on:
- Release of the full preseason schedule (typically months in advance)
- Which prospects are invited to big-league camp
- Key position battles (starting rotation spots, bullpen roles, everyday positions still unsettled)
- Injury updates that may affect Opening Day rosters
- Announcements about the home opener at Truist Park—time, opponent, and any ceremonies or events
By following these preseason developments, you’ll walk into Truist Park in late March or early April not just excited for baseball, but already familiar with:
- The projected lineup
- The pitching rotation
- New faces on the roster and how they performed in Florida
That’s the practical value of understanding the Atlanta Braves preseason schedule as an Atlanta-based fan: it turns Opening Day and the first home games into the next chapter of a story you’ve already been following since mid-February.
