TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida will welcome Major League Baseball’s spring training for the 125th year next month when 15 teams return to the Sunshine State to polish their skills for the 2013 season.

Pitchers and catchers can report as early as Feb. 12. The Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves will open the five-week Grapefruit League schedule Feb. 22 in Lake Buena Vista.

Big league players use spring training to round into shape and sharpen their timing before the 162-game regular season begins in early April.

Spring training in Florida will take on an added international flavor in early March when teams from Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Spain are in the state for a few days as they wrap up their preparation for first-round play in the World Baseball Classic.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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