MLB

Marlins Trip to Puerto Rico Officially Canceled

The Marlins and Pirates will not play two planned games in Puerto Rico

The Miami Marlins will not play this season in Puerto Rico due to Zika virus concerns.

Miami was scheduled to host the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 30-31 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico. The series was set to honor Roberto Clemente, with Miami serving as the home team against the Hall of Famer's old club.

Following the announcement on Friday from Major League Baseball and the players' union, the games will now be played at Marlins Park.

This series was expected to be well-attended, with possible strong support for Miami. The last time the Marlins visited the island was back in 2010, when they were still known as the Florida Marlins. That time, they hosted the New York Mets, also drawing in large crowds. 

Puerto Rico and MLB have strong ties dating back decades. In addition to series like the 2010 "San Juan Series," Puerto Rico is a popular Winter League destination. Hiram Bithorn Stadium has also played host to World Baseball Classic games. It remains to be seen if this cancellation will lead to any problems between the league and the island.

Miami will still take part in a special game this year. The Marlins have a contest against the Atlanta Braves set to take place in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This will be the first game ever played on a military base and is scheduled for July 3rd.

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