Mets and Yankees Begin Spring Training 2023

Here's a Valentine's Day present for both him and her: spring training has arrived.

Yes, it has been a rather winter-less winter in 2022-23, but just the very thought of warmer weather, sunny skies, the sounds of baseballs hitting leather, and the crack of the bat is enough to make one's heart flutter with excitement.

2022 was a good year to be a baseball fan in the New York/New Jersey market. The Mets and Yankees both had outstanding seasons, and barring any unforeseen injuries, both clubs should be in the mix again this year.

For the Mets, they are trying to build off a 101 win season with a revamped pitching staff that now includes three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander, and Japanese flame thrower Kodi Senga. The Mets also showed a commitment to some of its own by re-signing Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil to long term deals.

Of course the biggest loss of the Mets off-season was losing Jacob deGrom via free agency to Texas. It appeared that deGrom just wanted a change of scenery all along rather than return to Flushing Queens, New York.

As for the Yankees, their biggest move of the off-season was re-signing Aaron Judge to a massive $360 million contract and naming him team captain. The Bombers also re-upped with first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Plus the addition of Carlos Rodon to the rotation to will give the Yankees a solid 1-2-3 of Gerrit Cole, Rodon and Nestor Cortes atop its rotation.

Cortes is skipping out of the World Baseball Classic due to a hamstring injury before camp opened.

Not to mention, there is a lot to be excited about on the farm for the Yanks.

The Somerset Patriots, the Yankees Double-A affiliate won the Eastern League title in 2022, and with names like Oswald Peraza and Oswaldo Cabrera already contributing at the Major League level, the future is bright for the pinstripes.

A few Somerset Patriots on this list including last year's star Anthony Volpe.