SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — While much of the nation is buried in snow, glazed by ice or just plain shivering in the cold, it’s time to play ball in the desert.

Spring training officially began Thursday when Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers and catchers reported, with their first workout set for Friday.

On the other side of suburban Phoenix, in Glendale, Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers and catchers report on Saturday.

Full-squad workouts for both teams begin next week.

The Diamondbacks and Dodgers get an early start because they will open the MLB season with a two-game series in Sydney, Australia, on March 22-23.

The rest of the teams begin workouts next week at their spring training haunts in Arizona and Florida.