Get your paid time-off requests in right now, Mets fans — We’re going to Puerto Rico!
In an official press release sent out by Major League Baseball on Monday afternoon, we learned that the New York Mets and Miami Marlins will be playing a three-game series at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The three-game set is scheduled for April 28-30 in 2020, just as we are all getting back into the swing of the regular baseball season. A great excuse to warm up from that rainy, somewhat cold April weather, too.
Both Marlins CEO Derek Jeter and Mets COO Jeff Wilpon were on hand at a press conference to announce their respective team’s participation in the Puerto Rico series.
“Puerto Rico has a rich baseball history and passionate baseball fans,” said Wilpon. “We are honored to represent the Mets, and Major League Baseball, and are looking forward to returning to Puerto Rico to play the Marlins in 2020.”
“It is an honor for the Marlins to represent Major League Baseball in this special series against the Mets,” Jeter added. “Miami serves as the gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America, and we are grateful for the chance to showcase the new Miami Marlins organization to our neighbors in Puerto Rico.”
“We are looking forward to the opportunity of celebrating Puerto Rico’s rich baseball heritage and passion for the game and continue our mission to grow the game of baseball in our community while fostering the shared love for our National Pastime.”
This is not the first time the Mets are playing internationally. Back in 1996, they played against the San Diego Padres in the first-ever MLB regular season games played in Monterrey Mexico. The Mets unfortunately lost that series.
Four years later, they opened the season by playing against the Chicago Cubs in Japan, which was the first ever official MLB games to ever be played outside of North America. This was a two-game series, and the Mets and Cubs split it.
This is the Mets’ fourth trip to Puerto Rico, and last played there in 2010. And who did they play then? You guessed it, the Marlins, who swept the three-game series against the Amazins. The Marlins will be the designated home team for the series.
