Photo: Matt Tallarini/World Baseball Network
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – Officials from the Major League Baseball Players Association offered insights about the impending Collective Bargaining Agreement ending in 2026 and its impact on international play ahead of this weekend’s series between Boston and Tampa Bay at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal.
The CBA is negotiated between the MLBA and all 30 Major League Baseball owners. It was signed into agreement in March 2022, and one aspect allows the owners’ and players’ union to organize international events before the end of the 2026 season.
“Players understand the importance of having marquee events,” said MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark at the El Embajador, a Royal Hideaway Hotel in Santo Domingo. “In season games, it’s a little different than spring training where guys are looking to make the ball club or prepare for the season. As a result, ensuring that players are protected, making sure that the field that they play on, and the regulated amenities by which they are performing are up to standard is very important.”
Clark said MLBPA will negotiate the next iteration of jewel events after the 2026 season.
“For now, players understand and are adjusting accordingly to do their best to put on a great event,” he said.
MLBPA and MLB officials agreed with the CBA to have an MLB World Tour with multiple international locations. The MLB World Tour will feature 24 regular-season games and 16 exhibition games played in Asia, Mexico, Europe, and Latin America between 2023 and 2026.
The CBA will end after the 2026 regular season, and officials will discuss the future of other international events during that time frame.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC SERIES
The Dominican Republic has never hosted an MLB regular-season game, even though it has been home to various baseball training programs through all 30 MLB organizations, with their Dominican Republic Summer Complex League academies located in the country since 1985.
The Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers played at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in March 2020. The Houston Astros and Red Sox also had a split-squad set of games during spring training in the Dominican Republic in 2000.
The first game of the Dominican Republic Series with Boston and Tampa Bay will start on Saturday at 5:05 p.m. EST. The second game will be on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. EDT.
IN-GAME FESTIVITIES
The in-game festivities for this weekend will include Dominican singer-songwriter and Grammy-nominated artist Manny Cruz performing the Dominican Republic national anthem on Saturday before the start of the first game. Dominican Republic bachata artist Zacarias Ferreira will perform the national anthem on Sunday. The Coral Mixta Domínico-Americana, an internationally-renowned mixed chorus based in the capital of the Dominican Republic, will perform the United States National Anthem at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal before the games on Saturday and Sunday.
MLB Hall of Famers Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz will throw out the ceremonial first pitch on Saturday. Dembow artist El Alfa will throw out the first pitch on Sunday.
Reggaeton Artists Natti Natasha will serve as the Series Ambassador. Television personality Jhoel Lopez and actress Gabi Desangles will attend both games. Record producer DJ Adoni will also perform for 30 minutes on the field after the final game on Sunday.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal is home to the two winter league professional teams, Leones del Escogido and Tigres del Licey, in the Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana.