Time to crank up some Europe, 'cause it's the final countdown. There are only 23 days left until Padres pitchers and catchers report to Peoria on February 19. The first workout is scheduled for the next day; all other players are scheduled to show up on February 24, with the club's first full workout scheduled for the day after that.
The nineteenth is the most popular day to kick things off, with 13 teams' batteries reporting then. The Giants, along with both Pennsylvania teams and both Ohio teams, break camp one day earlier. Nine teams open up proceedings on February 20, the Rays pitchers and catchers report on February 21, and the Twins and Blue Jays finally get going on the twenty-second.
Even though it's 28 days until Yonder Alonso has to report, he's pictured here for obvious reasons. Alonso is the fifteenth player to wear number 23 for the Padres; others include Phil Nevin, Adrian Gonzalez, Tito Fuentes, and Shane Mack. Greg Vaughn wore it in 1998, his 50-homer season, after wearing 7 in 1996 and 25 in 1997.