Marlins and Mets Will Meet In Puerto Rico

Word gets around very fast these days. Start packing your bags to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

According to a report from San Juan, the move of a three-game, regular-season series between the New York Mets and Florida Marlins to San Juan during the 2010 season is official.

The agreement, between Major League Baseball and the players’ association, has been signed and it will be playing the three-game series between the Mets and Marlins at San Juan’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium from June 28-30.

The series was originally scheduled for now called Sun Life Stadium in Miami, and the Marlins would remain the home team.

Hiram Bithorn Stadium played host to 22 Montreal Expos home games in each of the 2003 and 2004 seasons before the franchise relocated to the nation capital Washington and was renamed the Nationals.

Both the Mets and Marlins played both years against the Expos in San Juan in regular season play.

In addition, the ballpark hosted the 2001 season opener between the Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Local heroes Ivan Rodriguez played for the Rangers and Carlos Delgado for the Blue Jays.

Furthermore the stadium was the site of first and second round action during the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009.

Even though the Marlins are home team, expect most fans will be chanting the famous New Yorker “Let Go Mets, Go!” The Mets roster features regular catcher Omir Santos, outfielders Carlos Beltran and Angel Pagan, and lefty-reliever Pedro Feliciano.

Keep an eye on the Mets that it is very possible will resign also local hero and once former Marlin Carlos Delgado.

The Marlins does not feature at this moment any Puerto Rican player in their roster. Most famous Puerto Ricans to have played for the Marlins are Ivan Rodriguez, Mike Lowell, Bobby Bonilla, and Benito Santiago.

In the 2004 series against the Expos, then Gold-Glove Marlin Mike Lowell was honored in a pregame ceremony along his father Carlos Lowell, who pitched for the Puerto Rico National Team in the decade of the 60’s and early 70’s.

According to the report from San Juan, there is a possibility Major League Baseball and the Players Association will approve the Marlins to play at least one regular series at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in 2011 and 2012.