Seattle Mariners release 2013 spring training schedule

Now that baseball has been over for about a month, it is time to turn attention to the fact that Seattle Mariners pitchers and catchers report to spring training in just 78 days.

Greg Johns with MLB.com has the dates for the Mariners' Cactus League spring training games as the club opens on Feb. 22, 2013 against the San Diego Padres in Peoria Stadium in Peoria, Ariz.

It is the earliest starting date in club history largely because of the World Baseball Classic, which is held from March 2 to 16. Players playing with the native country in the WBC will report for physicals and early work before heading off to the international tournament.

It isn't the first time the Mariners have been the early birds to Spring Training. Pitchers and catchers reported last year on Feb. 11 because of the beginning-of-the-season games in Japan.

This time around, the position players will be due to Peoria on Feb. 15, a few days after the pitchers and catchers. The Mariners will also play a team from the Asian qualifying round of the World Baseball Classic on March 15. They will close out the Cactus League on the road against the Chicago Cubs.

The Mariners' first game of the season is on Monday, April 1 against the Oakland Athletics. Their home opener is scheduled against the now-AL West Houston Astros on Monday, April 8.

A full list of the Mariners' Cactus League schedule can be seen here.