We’re not counting down magic number it’ll take to clinch the Grapefruit League but nevertheless, the New York Yankees are in first place. If you’re curious as to how winning the Florida circuit translates to the regular season, you’re in the right spot.
2016
The Washington Nationals posted a spring training best 19-4 ledger and a plus 82 run differential. Conversely, the Atlanta Braves were dead last at 6-20. As it turns out, the Nationals were National League East champions at 95-67 and the Braves were a cellar dwelling 68-93.
Over in the Cactus League, the Arizona Diamondbacks went 24-8 but their regular season ledger was a putrid 69-93. The Cactus League-worst San Diego Padres and their 10-21 mark were equally awful during the regular season at 68-94.
The World Series champion Chicago Cubs were 11-19 in spring training before going an MLB-best 103-58. The AL Pennant winning Cleveland Indians were 18-12 in Arizona and 94-67 during the regular campaign.
2015
The crosstown New York Mets and their 19-12 mark topped the Grapefruit League. Those Mets posted a 90-72 record and won the NL Pennant. Finishing last were the 12-20 Detroit Tigers, who followed up with the last place regular season finish of 74-87.
In the Cactus League, the Oakland Athletics and their 22-11 record didn’t translate to the regular season, as they finished last at 68-94. On the flip side, the Texas Rangers were a spring training-worst 9-19 but won the AL West at 88-74.
The eventual World Series champion Kansas City Royals were 20-10 in spring training and went an AL-best 95-67 in the regular season.
2014
In 2014 Grapefruit League play the Tampa Bay Rays were tops at 16-7, while the Philadelphia Phillies were a dreadful 9-18. The Rays wound up going 77-85 and the Phillies were a dreadful 73-89.
The Indians were best in the Cactus League at 20-9, while the Rangers were at the bottom, going 10-17. Cleveland posted an 85-77 mark and Texas sported an awful 67-95 ledger.
The World Series champion San Francisco Giants went 17-12 in Cactus League action and 88-74 during the regular season slate. The AL champion Royals were only 12-16 during spring training but were 89-73 during the regular season.
Looking back on the last time the Yankees won a playoff series in 2012, the club went 18-12 in Grapefruit League play and won the AL East at 95-67. Drawing upon the past few seasons, if you’re attempting to find a positive correlation between the games at George M. Steinbrenner Field to Yankee Stadium, there’s evidence to back you up.
