Why President Obama is going to a Rays game against Cuba
The Tampa Bay Rays are scheduled play an exhibition game against the Cuban National Team in Havana on March 22, and President Barack Obama plans to attend.
Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser for strategic communications and speechwriting, shared the news on Twitter Tuesday after MLB announced the details of the historic trip.
BREAKING: @POTUS will attend an exhibition game between @MLB’s @RaysBaseball & the Cuban National Team in Cuba: https://t.co/3aRAAjEodz
— Ben Rhodes (@rhodes44) March 2, 2016
Rhodes followed up with a comment from President Obama, who stated "We are very excited to...strengthen ties between our countries through our love & passion for the game of baseball."
“We are very excited to…strengthen ties between our countries through our love & passion for the game of baseball.”-@MLB_PLAYERS #CubaPolicy
— Ben Rhodes (@rhodes44) March 2, 2016
It will be the first visit to Cuba by an MLB franchise since the Baltimore Orioles played an exhibition game against Cuba on March 28, 1999.
"Major League Baseball is excited to play in Cuba and to have the Tampa Bay Rays representing our 30 Clubs. During a time of historic change, we appreciate the constructive role afforded by our shared passion for the game, and we look forward to experiencing Cuba's storied baseball tradition and the passion of its many loyal fans," Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
MLB and the MLBPA participated in a goodwill tour of Cuba in December. The tour, which featured four days of children's clinics and charitable events, included a number of Cuban-born major-leaguers, including Miguel Cabrera, Jose Abreu, Yasiel Puig and Nelson Cruz, among others.
