Spring Swing Tour Knocks Skin Safety Out of the Park

This year’s Spring Swing tour screened more than 115 baseball fans, leading to 140 suspicious findings.

Spring training brings baseball fans to the Sunshine State to watch their favorite teams work out the winter woes. But people often forget their skin also suffers in winter. After months of cold weather, our skin isn’t as accustomed to intense sun exposure, and spending hours outside in warmer temperatures can lead to sunburns or other skin issues.

Moffitt Cancer Center proudly offers the Spring Swing Sun Safety Tour at ballparks across Florida during spring training in an effort to look for early signs of skin cancer and promote sun safety with help from Moffitt’s Mole Patrol® team. The 2025 Spring Swing tour made stops at Ed Smith Field in Sarasota, JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers and Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. More than 115 baseball fans were screened during the tour, leading to 140 suspicious findings. In the 18 years of the Spring Swing program, more than 5,320 baseball fans have received a free screening.   

While spending time outdoors is good for us, we need to protect ourselves from the sun’s damaging rays. The American Cancer Society recommends these sun-safe, everyday tips:

Check the UV index when planning your day. The higher the number, the greater your risk of exposure to UV rays and skin damage from the sun. Take steps to protect your skin when the UV index is high.

Seek shade. Limit exposure to the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when UV rays are strongest.

Cover up. Wear protective clothing and a wide-brimmed hat to protect as much skin as possible. Protect your eyes with large framed or wraparound sunglasses that block at least 99% of UV light.

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Apply 30 minutes before going outside and reapply at least every two hours and after swimming or sweating.