Astros to hold groundbreaking at new Spring Training facility

HOUSTON -- After three years of planning and negotiations, the Astros and Nationals will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking at their $135 million Spring Training facility at 10:30 a.m. ET on Nov. 9 at in West Palm Beach, Fla., where Commissioner Rob Manfred is expected to be on hand.

Astros owner Jim Crane and general manager Jeff Luhnow will attend the groundbreaking, along with Nationals owner Mark Lerner, general manager Mike Rizzo and local city and county officials. The site is not far from where the annual baseball General Managers Meetings will begin Monday in Boca Raton, Fla.

"It's been great to finally get in the ground over there," said Astros general counsel Giles Kibbe, who has been…