The Major Leagues confirmed that there will be no regular season games in Mexico City nor in San Juan, Puerto Rico, during the 2025 season.
This decision marks a shift in the league’s international strategy, which will prioritize other markets, such as Japan, in next year’s calendar.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred explained that, despite the efforts made, no viable economic agreements were reached to bring the games to San Juan.
“We would like to go to San Juan, but circumstances change year after year. “I hope everything works out in the future.” Manfred declared after an owners meeting on Wednesday.
For their part, Mexican fans will have to wait to enjoy Major League baseball again in their territory.
Although the Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium in Mexico City hosted successful series in 2023 and 2024the league decided to prioritize other international destinations in 2025.
“We are not going to San Juan. We did not have, despite many efforts, an agreement that made economic sense for us,” said Commissioner Rob Manfred.
The season will begin with a historic series in Tokyo on March 18 and 19, where Shohei Ohtani’s Dodgers will face the Cubs.
Tokyo, MLB focus in 2025
According to Manfred, this opening in Japan responds to “very good commercial reasons” and represents a strategic approach in the Asian market.
“We had a very, very aggressive international commitment last season. Obviously, we’re opening in Tokyo. “Tokyo is really our focus right now for very, very good business reasons.”
The current labor agreement, which extends until 2026, does contemplate games in Mexico City and San Juan in that year, in addition to commitments in London. This gives hope that both Latin American venues will return to the international baseball map in the medium term.
MLB has historically had a strong presence in San Juan, with 49 regular season games held at Hiram Bithorn Stadium between 2001 and 2018. In Mexico, the impact has also been significant, with games in the capital standing out as key events in the internationalization of sport.
Keep reading:
– 2 Pitchers win the Rookie of the Year award in the Major Leagues
– Cooperstown Hall of Fame candidates announced
