Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred announced Tuesday that the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays will play a couple of training games next year in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
The spring games will be played on March 9 and 10 at the Quisqueya Juan Marichal Stadium, and are part of the Major League Baseball World Tour, which includes dates in other cities such as London, Seoul and Mexico City.
“We are looking forward to celebrating the tradition of this sport in the Dominican Republic with our visit to Santo Domingo next March,” Manfred said, according to an official statement from the Commissioner’s Office.
The president of Boston, Sam Kennedy, was equally excited, who assured that these games are a representation of the strong ties of this franchise with the country, in addition to allowing the celebration of the Dominican passion for baseball.
“From the players who have passed through our Academy in the Dominican Republic to those who have helped us win championships, we have been fortunate to witness the profound impact of Dominican players within our game, and we are delighted to be able to bring the Red Sox baseball to such a vibrant baseball community next year,” he said.