Scorching Arizona Heat Affecting MLB Spring Training Teams

Arizona’s Extreme Heat Pushes Sports Teams to Adapt

Hot summers are normal in Arizona, so we don’t get too excited when the thermometer rises. However, this year’s record-breaking spring heat is forcing even the most sun-savvy native to shrink.

Now, even our seasoned professional athletes are being forced to rethink how they operate. Two of Major League Baseball’s Cactus League spring training teams, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox, are adjusting their routines to cope with these unseasonably high temperatures.

A few of the games have been moved to evenings, while the core of the training schedule has remained unchanged, according to MLB.com.

Get our free mobile app

Early Morning Practices In Arizona’s Heat

The teams come to the Valley to train and escape the last vestiges of unpredictable snowy weather in Illinois. They don’t typically have to pivot to account for Arizona’s weather, but here we are.

The teams have made safety and performance their top priorities. To avoid the scorching weather, they’re doing the most Arizona thing ever: shifting their practice sessions to earlier hours when the desert sun is a little less intense.

Players are hydrating more aggressively, and the league has set up cooling stations around training facilities. The teams’ coaches have shortened outdoor sessions to the players’ exposure to the unrelenting heat.

READ MORE: Tips to Survive in Arizona's Heat Wave

What This Means for Regular Arizona Residents

As the heat gets even more intense, we can all take a leaf out of these pro-athletes’ playbook. While we’re used to the heat, we’re not used to it getting this hot this early.

This is a good reminder for everyday Arizonans to stay heat-aware, too. City officials across the state are already preparing and implementing updated extreme heat plans for the long, hot summer ahead.

Cities in Maricopa County are expanding cooling centers, rolling out public awareness campaigns, and working on new funding requests to support heat‑mitigation programs.

One thing we’re betting on right now: this year’s unprecedented heat may be the first of many, and preparing now will help us stay ahead of the heat in the future.