Pirates Will Play Two-Game Series In Puerto Rico In 2016
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates will play two games against the Miami Marlins in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in May.
Major League Baseball also announced that ESPN will expand its coverage of Opening Day in 2016 by covering seven games in two days, and the first of those games will be the Pirates game April 3rd.
The Pirates game vs. St. Louis, which was originally scheduled for Monday, April 4 at 1:35 p.m., will now be played at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday, April 3 at PNC Park.
This will now be the first game of the 2016 Major League Baseball regular season.
Major League Baseball announced Thursday that the Pirates will play in a two-game series in San Juan on May 30th and 31st. The games will be played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, and they will be considered Marlins home games.
MLB will also observe Roberto Clemente Day on May 31st and announce 30 club nominees for the 2016 Roberto Clemente Award. Clemente was born in Puerto Rico and spent his entire Hall-of-Fame career with the Pirates. The Pirates' Andrew McCutchen won the 2015 Clemente Award.
"The Pirates are thrilled to return to Puerto Rico in 2016," said Pirates President Frank Coonelly. "Roberto Clemente embodied what it means to be a Pittsburgh Pirate, a player of great determination, grit and skill on the field who also embraced the more weighty obligation to make a difference in the lives of others off the field. We very much look forward to bringing 2015 Roberto Clemente Award-winner Andrew McCutchen and the rest of the 2016 Pirates to Roberto's homeland to take on the Miami Marlins before the passionate baseball fans in Puerto Rico. We greatly appreciate the efforts of Commissioner Rob Manfred, the Major League Baseball Players Association and the Marlins to make this great opportunity possible for our players and fans."
No MLB games have been played in Puerto Rico since 2010. The Pirates last played in Puerto Rico in 2004.
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