D-backs contingent to visit Hermosillo, Mexico this week for Caribbean Series
Youth clinic, ceremonial first pitches and news conference to highlight club’s second trip to Mexico in five months
The Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) announced that a contingent of executives will travel to Hermosillo, Mexico this week to take part in various events surrounding the 2013 Serie del Caribe (Caribbean Series). Among those in attendance will be President & CEO Derrick Hall (@DHallDbacks), Executive Vice President Tom Harris, Sr. Vice President Josh Rawitch and Special Assistant to the President & CEO, D-backs legend Luis Gonzalez.
“Hermosillo is the center of the baseball world this week and the D-backs are excited to be a part of the Caribbean Series and get our first complete look at Estadio Sonora,” said Hall, who advised on the new stadium project. “With the World Baseball Classic just over a month away at Chase Field and Salt River Fields, this trip will also give us an opportunity remind all of the baseball fans in Mexico of the opportunity they have coming up to travel to Arizona and watch Team Mexico play.”
This morning, the D-backs and the Arizona Mexico Commission will jointly host a clinic for 50 youngsters at Estadio Mundialistas Hermosillenses, led by Gonzalez. Each participant will receive a D-backs hat and T-shirt at the clinic.
Tomorrow, Gonzalez will throw out a ceremonial first pitch before the 4 p.m. MT game between Puerto Rico and Venezuela and on Wednesday, Hall will have that honor before the game between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
On Wednesday afternoon, (approximately 5:00 p.m. MT), the D-backs will host a news conference at Estadio Sonora, the new ballpark that was inaugurated for the Caribbean Series after the D-backs consulted on the planning and construction. The ballpark includes several features that resemble the award-winning Spring Training home of the D-backs, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
The D-backs have a long-standing history in Hermosillo, having played exhibition games there each spring from 2008-10. The team’s Spanish-language broadcaster, Oscar Soria, will call the play-by-play of the Caribbean Series while fellow broadcaster Richard Saenz will also take part in the club’s visit. Saenz joined Hall, Gonzalez, Rawitch and General Manager Kevin Towers on a visit to Sonora in October, when the D-backs met with several key Sonoran officials and took part in Opening Night ceremonies for the Hermosillo Naranjeros of the Mexican Winter League.
The World Baseball Classic comes to Phoenix from March 7-10, with several opportunities to see Team USA, Team Mexico, Team Canada and Team Italy.
The D-backs will host Team Mexico in an exhibition game at Salt River Fields on March 5 at 7:10 p.m. MT. The first official game for Team Mexico will take place on March 7 at 1:10 p.m. MT vs. Team Italy and on March 8 at 7:10 p.m. MT, Team USA will host Team Mexico at Chase Field. On March 9, Team Mexico will play Team Canada at Salt River Fields at 12:30 p.m. MT and that evening, Team USA will host Team Italy at Chase Field. The finale of the first round of the WBC will be on March 10 when Team USA plays Team Canada at 1 p.m. MT at Chase Field.