Nats release schedule for inaugural spring in West Palm Beach

For the last 12 years, while they trained in remote Viera, the Nationals were forced to criss-cross the state of Florida each spring, with every Grapefruit League road game a minimum one hour's drive away.

That all changes next spring, in a dramatic way: The Nationals will play 28 of their 33 exhibition games within a 15-minute drive of their new ballpark in West Palm Beach, with only two games more than 45 minutes away.

The 2017 spring training schedule was announced today, and it offers striking evidence why the Nationals had for years been attempting to move out of Space Coast Stadium in Viera to a facility much closer to the state's other ballparks.

The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, which the Nationals will share with the Astros, is slated to host its first game on Feb. 28. The two permanent tenants will face each other, the first of seven head-to-head matchups (the Nats will be designated the home club four times, the Astros three times).

Construction on the facility remains on a tight schedule. Officials have said it will be ready on time, though it's notable that the Nationals will play three road games before inaugurating the new park, giving crews a bit of leeway to finish the project.

With the World Baseball Classic taking place this spring, all clubs will be reporting to Florida and Arizona earlier than usual, with an extra week or so of exhibition games, as well. The Nationals haven't announced reporting dates yet, but they'll open Grapefruit League play Feb. 25 against the Mets in Port St. Lucie (located 45 minutes north of West Palm Beach).

They'll make one trip across the state to Fort Myers (2 1/2 hours away) the following day to face the Twins, then face the Cardinals in Jupiter (15 minutes away) on Feb. 27. After the home opener, they'll hit the road again for their only other long trip, driving 2 1/2 hours northwest to face the Tigers in Lakeland on March 1.

After that, all 28 remaining exhibition games will take place either in West Palm Beach, Jupiter or Port St. Lucie, reducing the Nationals' total travel for the spring by a staggering amount.

Teams scheduled to come to West Palm Beach to face the Nationals include the Cardinals (March 3, 10, 24), Twins (March 5), Red Sox (March 7), Marlins (March 9, 28), Tigers (March 13), Mets (March 16, 23), Yankees (March 20) and Braves (March 21).

Spring training season tickets will go on sale November 28. Four-game "Flex Plans" will be available beginning Dec. 12. Single-game tickets go on sale in January.

Nationals 2017 Spring Training Schedule

Feb. 25 - at Mets at Port St. Lucie, TBA
Feb. 26 - at Twins at Fort Myers, TBA
Feb. 27 - at Cardinals at Jupiter, TBA
Feb. 28 - vs. Astros at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
March 1 - at Detroit at Lakeland, TBA
March 2 - at Houston at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
March 3 - vs. Cardinals at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.; at Miami at Jupiter, TBA
March 4 - at Cardinals at Jupiter, TBA
March 5 - vs. Twins at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
March 6 - Off
March 7 - vs. Red Sox at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
March 8 - at Cardinals at Jupiter, TBA
March 9 - vs. Marlins at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
March 10 - vs. Cardinals at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
March 11 - at Mets at Port St. Lucie, TBA
March 12 - vs. Astros at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
March 13 - vs. Tigers at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
March 14 - Off
March 15 - at Astros at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
March 16 - vs. Mets at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
March 17 - at Marlins at Jupiter, TBA
March 18 - vs. Astros at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
March 19 - at Marlins at Jupiter, TBA
March 20 - vs. Yankees at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
March 21 - vs. Braves at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
March 22 - at Cardinals at Jupiter, TBA
March 23 - vs. Mets at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
March 24 - vs. Cardinals at West Palm Beach,1:05 p.m.; at Marlins at Jupiter, TBA
March 25 - at Astros at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
March 26 - vs. Astros at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
March 27 - at Mets at Port St. Lucie, TBA
March 28 - vs. Marlins at West Palm Beach. 6:35 p.m.
March 29 - at Cardinals at Jupiter, TBA