© 2024 WOSU Public Media
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Cleveland Indians' Spring Training is Just Around the Corner

Loading the equipment trucks for the Indians spring training in Arizona
KEVIN NIEDERMIER
/
WKSU
Loading the equipment trucks for the Indians spring training in Arizona

For Indians fans who said “wait unit next year” immediately after the team’s World Series loss to the Cubs, the wait is almost over.  The team’s equipment trucks left today for its spring training facility in Goodyear, Arizona.

Everything from batting helmets and exercise equipment, to office supplies,  Stadium Mustard and players’ personal gear like golf clubs and bikes were being packed into trucks at Progressive field. Indian’s equipment and club house manager Tony Amato has been prepping for spring training for nearly three decades. He says the team’s World Series run stretched last season out and altered this year’s planning.

Indians equipment and club house manager Tony Amato talks about getting ready for this season's spring training
Credit KEVIN NIEDERMIER / WKSU
/
WKSU
Indians equipment and club house manager Tony Amato talks about getting ready for this season's spring training

“A lot quicker and it brought a lot more challenges from a logistics standpoint. As soon as the season was over it rolled right into budgeting and ordering within two days of when the season ended. So from that end it was a lot more challenging from our end, but we got through it.”

Indians’ pitchers and catchers report to spring training February 12th and the rest of the team reports four days later. The season opener is April 3rd in Texas against the Rangers. 

Copyright 2021 WKSU. To see more, visit WKSU.

Kevin Niedermier
Kevin was raised in New Washington in rural North Central Ohio. He attended Bowling Green State University and Ashland College (now Ashland University) before beginning his career in commercial radio news.
Related Content