Major League Baseball announced on Tuesday evening that the Rays will indeed oppose the Cuban National Team in Havana, Cuba on March 22. The exhibition match will be held at Estadio Latinoamericano. ESPN and ESPN Deportes will provide coverage of the game including the day of and the day prior.
The Rays were selected in a lottery last November for the privilege of playing. As noted several months ago, the last Major League Baseball exhibition game held in Cuba was in 1999 when the Orioles took on the Cuban National Team.
Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times notes that the Rays’ players will get a $10,000 stipend for going to Cuba.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said, “Major League Baseball is excited to play in Cuba and to have the Tampa Bay Rays representing our 30 clubs. During a time of historic change, we appreciate the constructive role afforded by our shared passion for the game, and we look forward to experiencing Cuba’s storied baseball tradition and the passion of its many loyal fans.”