SEATTLE -- Mariners pitchers and catchers will report to Peoria, Ariz., for the start of Spring Training on Monday, Feb. 11, one of the earliest start times in franchise history due to the regular-season opener in Japan on March 20.
Seattle's pitchers and catchers will take physical exams on Feb. 11, then they will conduct their first on-field work the following day. Position players will report for physicals on Friday, Feb. 15, with the first full-squad workout set for Feb. 16.
The Mariners will have a shorter-than-normal Cactus League schedule as they'll fly to Japan on Thursday, March 14, to begin a week in Tokyo that will include a pair of exhibition games and then the two-game Opening Series against the A's on March 20-21.
The two regular-season games at the Tokyo Dome will be nationally broadcast live on ESPN, the network announced on Wednesday. Both games will start at 2:35 a.m. PT.
With the Mariners making extensive changes to their roster this offseason, the club will have a little less time than normal to evaluate players and get the newcomers acclimated. But manager Scott Servais said the abbreviated spring offers some pluses as well for his young group.
"I'm looking forward to the Japan trip," Servais said. "I think where we're at as a ballclub, sometimes when you take a trip like that the team bonding really happens quicker, you don't have to wait to get into the season. Even though those two games are regular-season games. I'm looking forward to it.
"On the evaluation side, it is a bit more challenging. We'll start Spring Training three or four days ahead of time, get our pitchers ramped up. That's why we're there, to get the pitchers' pitch count built up. In Japan, our pitchers may not be at the 90-100 pitch level yet."
Here's a full list of important spring dates for the Mariners:
Pitchers and catchers report/physicals: Monday, Feb. 11.

Pitchers and catchers first workout: Tuesday, Feb. 12

Position players report/physicals: Friday, Feb. 15

First full-squad workout: Saturday, Feb. 16

First Cactus League game: Thursday, Feb. 21 at A's in Mesa, Ariz.

Minor League pitchers and catchers report: Monday, March 4

Minor League pitchers and catchers first workout: Tuesday, March 5

Minor League position players report: Saturday, March 9

First Minor League full-squad workout: Sunday, March 10

Minor League Spring Training games: Thursday, March 14 to Friday, March 29

Mariners fly to Japan: Thursday, March 14

Japan Series vs. A's: Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21, 2:35 a.m. PT at Tokyo Dome

FanFest: Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24 at T-Mobile Park

Exhibition games vs. Padres: Monday, March 25 at 7:10 p.m. PT and Tuesday, March 26 at 1:10 p.m. PT at T-Mobile Park.

Home opener vs. Red Sox: Thursday, March 28, 4:08 p.m. PT

Minor League Opening Day: Thursday, April 4