FORT MYERS, FL—Arriving in their nicest cleats, freshly oiled gloves, and carefully applied eye black in hopes of dazzling their coaches and peers, Major League Baseball pitchers and catchers reported to the annual Spring Training Dance Friday, marking the official return of baseball ahead of full-squad workouts later this month. Witnesses confirmed players filed into the gymnasium with a mix of nerves and excitement, sipping Gatorade from champagne flutes beneath a large, glittering baseball that rotated above the dance floor while DJ-commissioner Rob Manfred played classic stadium tunes like “DE-FENSE” and “Mexican Hat Dance” to set the mood. Several reports indicated that players initially mingled in familiar groups on opposite ends of the gym, with giggly pitchers exchanging bashful glances across the room at catchers, who responded by coyly flashing pitch signs and blushing beneath their masks. The vibe in the room eased, witnesses confirmed, when the lights dimmed and the ceremonial first dance began. Red Sox southpaw Garrett Crochet and Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman reportedly met in the middle of the room for a slow waltz set to “Take Me Out To The Ball Game,” prompting the rest of the players to join them. Umpires served as dutiful chaperones as players cut loose, with pitchers performing elaborate windups to the music and catchers maintaining their squatting posture while waddling around in slow, rhythmic steps. As the evening concluded, sources said, players gathered and waited with bated breath for the announcement of the Spring Training Dance MVP, the crown ultimately being awarded to Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto. According to sources, the event then concluded with players sitting down and doing cooldown stretches before being ordered to return to their hotel rooms to ice, hydrate, and unwind from a magical night on the dance floor.
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