February in Florida and Lee County has long been the true start of spring for baseball fans from across the nation who have historically flocked here to get their first taste of a new baseball season, spelling the true end of winter no matter what any groundhog says.

This week, pitchers and catchers with the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox organization will begin reporting to Fort Myers for their respective camps at the Lee County Sports Complex and JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Next week, full squads will report in what will certainly be a breath of fresh air for an area devastated by Hurricane Ian just a few months ago.

It may be hard to believe but it has been three years since there was February spring training workouts and camps in full swing in Florida. In 2021, camps were delayed due to the COVID pandemic. In 2022, a lockout by the owners delayed the season.

For the Boston Red Sox, pitchers and catchers will begin reporting today, Feb. 15, with full squad workouts beginning Monday, Feb. 20. For the Minnesota Twins, catchers and pitchers will first report on Thursday, Feb. 16 with full squad workouts starting Monday, Feb. 20.

The Red Sox and Twins are entering 2023 having had identical 78-84 records last season. The Red Sox finished last in the American League East while the Twins finished third in the American League Central division.

The Twins had a chaotic offseason in which they appeared to have lost prized shortstop Carlos Correa first to the San Francisco Giants, who had a deal in place to sign him until it fell through over a physical in December, and then to the New York Mets, who backed out of a deal with Correa over the same issue in January. The Twins ultimately re-signed the two-time All-Star to a six-year, $200 million deal. The club also traded Luis Arraez, the reigning American League batting champ, for Marlins pitcher Pablo Lopez. Also traded was third baseman Gio Urshela for Angels pitcher Alejandro Hidalgo. The team also signed outfielder Joey Gallo.

The Red Sox also had a chaotic offseason when they lost shortstop and fan favorite Xander Bogaerts to the San Diego Padres, who signed the four-time All-Star to an 11-year, $280 million deal.

They also did not re-sign their ace lefty Nathan Eovaldi, who landed a deal with the Texas Rangers.

The team did agree to keep its crown jewel third baseman Rafael Devers on a 11-year, $331 million extension.

The Red Sox released first baseman Eric Hosmer and signed Dodgers All-Star veteran third baseman Justin Turner. The Red Sox also signed outfielder Adam Duvall in the offseason and traded for Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi.

The Red Sox will host their first spring training game against Northeastern on Friday, Feb. 24. Their first game against a Major League Baseball club will be against the Tampa Bay Rays with split squads at JetBlue Park on Sunday, Feb. 26.

The Twins will host their first spring training game on Saturday, Feb. 25, against the Tampa Bay Rays.

For Rays fans, the Tampa Bay club will not be playing in Port Charlotte this spring due to damage at the stadium from Hurricane Ian. Instead, the Rays will split their time between Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg and the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World in Orlando.