The Yankees get one Bradenton date. Here’s the Pirates’ spring calendar.

A spring calendar worth keeping

Yankees fans get one shot at catching their club in Bradenton next spring: Saturday, March 13. The Pirates’ newly released 2027 calendar puts that visit near the end of a 15-game home slate at LECOM Park.

Toronto starts things off Friday, February 19. Baltimore closes the Bradenton schedule Saturday, March 20. Between those bookends, there are several ways to build a baseball afternoon around a visiting favorite.

For Parrish residents, that is the appeal of the spring schedule: you can pick the opponent first and make a nearby outing of it, without turning the game into an overnight trip.[1]

The dates to circle

My first choices would be that Saturday Yankees matchup or Sunday, February 28, against Philadelphia. Boston visits February 24 and March 12; Tampa Bay comes March 17.

March 12 is a split-squad date, with Boston in Bradenton and Baltimore away. That means Pittsburgh is playing two games with different groups of players. It is worth remembering if your reason for going is to see one particular Pirate.

For a family divided between teams, choosing the opponent can be half the fun. Give the visiting fan a turn, pick another game for the Pirates fan, and you have the beginnings of a spring tradition.

Use the full calendar when comparing weekends. Check the home-and-away key carefully before making plans; not every game on Pittsburgh’s schedule puts the team in Bradenton.[1]

Pick the matchup; leave the pitching plans open

I would choose a game for the matchup and the company, then treat a favorite player’s appearance as a bonus. A spring ticket is not a promise that a particular starter will pitch or that an everyday player will stay in for nine innings.

The September 4 announcement deferred game times, ticket prices and sale dates. The team’s ticket page currently directs fans to sign up for updates.

For now, pencil in a first choice and a backup. Once times and tickets arrive, you can decide whether the game fits a full family afternoon or a shorter outing for two.[2][3]