Pirates announce 2026 spring training schedule
The Pittsburgh Pirates are getting their spring training schedule together for the 2026 season.
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Meet the Noblesville Boom's new mascot
The Noblesville Boom has a new teammate.
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![](/<figure><img alt="" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/sb_nation_articles_115/2af1e02f4c308f136fa4e10d00a842b1" data-uuid="9ce7578a-96df-36ab-91d9-e169bd8a5906"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p class="has-text-align-none">The <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pittsburgh Pirates</a> are marking their calendars as the spring training schedule has been revealed.</p><p class="has-text-align-none">Here’s a look at the team’s schedule:</p><figure><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Spring schedule is here!<br><br>See you in Bradenton. ⚾️🌴 <a href="https://t.co/xPM95wOKwn">pic.twitter.com/xPM95wOKwn</a></p>— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pirates/status/1986141860570530301?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2025</a></blockquote></div></figure><p class="has-text-align-none">The team’s first game for Spring Training takes place on Saturday, Feb. 21 on the road against the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, Fla. The team’s first home game comes the next day when they host the Tampa Bay Rays in Bradenton. It’s also the first split squad game as half the players will head to Clearwater to play the Philadelphia Phillies.</p><p class="has-text-align-none">The team’s “Spring Breakout” game comes on Mar. 20 against the Detroit Tigers, where the organization’s top prospects will be headlined to showcase the top talent for the Pirates’ future.</p><p class="has-text-align-none">All of that leads to the spring training finale against the Atlanta Braves on Mar. 23.</p><p class="has-text-align-none">The Pirates will begin their regular season later that week on Thursday when they travel to the Big Apple against the New York Mets.</p>)
![](/<p><img alt="Bobby, the Noblesville Boom’s mascot, greets fans before a Noblesville Boom scrimmage Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, at The Arena at Innovation Mile in Noblesville. The Noblesville Boom, the Indiana Pacers" G League affiliate, was previously the Indiana Mad Ants." height="3968" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/indianapolis_star_natl_articles_522/8e06722b4fc7074a40e630610c4dfa71" width="5242" data-uuid="0cf60242-e5d6-34b4-927e-3956c21ef7d8"></p><p>The Noblesville Boom has a new teammate. </p><p>The Indiana Pacers' G League affiliate unveiled its mascot, Bobby the bobcat, during the team’s first public scrimmage Nov. 4. The team, formerly the Indiana Mad Ants, got its <a href="https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2025/04/16/indiana-pacers-g-league-affiliate-becomes-noblesville-boom-2025-26-bobby-slick-leonard-bye-mad-ants/83116428007/" target="_blank">new name earlier this year after moving from Fort Wayne</a>. </p><p>The Noblesville Boom will play its home games this season at the newly constructed 3,400 seat arena in Noblesville, The Arena at Innovation Mile. The team’s first regular season home game is Nov. 8 against the Grand Rapids Gold at 7 p.m. </p><p class="related-link"><span class="exclude-from-newsgate"><strong>More: </strong><a href="https://www.indystar.com/picture-gallery/sports/basketball/2025/11/04/noblesville-boom-hold-scrimmage-ahead-of-season-opener-at-the-arena-at-innovation-mile/87096081007/" target="_blank">Noblesville Boom hold scrimmage ahead of season opener at The Arena at Innovation Mile in Noblesville</a></span></p><p>“Bobcats are one of the few wildcats native to Indiana,” said Ryan Grant, president of business operations for the Noblesville Boom, in a news release. “Fast, agile and full of energy, Bobby embodies everything the Boom represent.” </p><p>The mascot’s name is also a tribute to Bobby ‘Slick’ Leonard, who coached the Pacers to 529 wins and three ABA championships. After coaching the Pacers, Leonard announced games on the radio, with his signature "Boom, baby!" for successful 3-pointers. </p><p><em>Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @Jake_Allen19.</em></p><p><em>This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: <a href="https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/noblesville/2025/11/05/bobby-the-bobcat-noblesville-boom-the-arena-at-innovation-mile/87107813007/">Meet the Noblesville Boom's new mascot</a></em></p>)