Phillies Announce 2016 Spring Training Schedule

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It feels like baseball season, just ended (that's because it did), but the thought of spring is already crossing our minds as the Phillies announced their 2016 Spring Training Schedule on Tuesday.

Pitchers and catchers will have their first workout on Thursday, February 18 and the full squad will begin workouts the following week on Tuesday, February 23.

This upcoming spring will be the 70th that the Phillies are spending in Clearwater, Fl.

The Phillies will get their first work against an opponent on February 28 against the University of Tampa. The team will then face the Blue Jays in the Grapefruit League opener on March 1.

There will be 17 games at Brighthouse Field in Clearwater and the Phillies annual St. Patrick's Day game is set for March 17 against the Rays.

This Spring Training will mark the debut of the Phillies Futures Series which will give fans the opportunity to see future Phillies play with the current team in two intra-squad games.

The first game of the Futures Series will be played at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading on March 31. The team will then return to Philadelphia for an exhibition against the Orioles on April 1 and another Futures game on April 2.

You can see the full 2016 Spring Training schedule at Phillies.com.