MLB executive Ng visits new Mexico stadium

HERMOSILLO, Mexico -- Major League Baseball senior vice president of baseball operations Kim Ng made an appearance at the Caribbean Series on Sunday, touring the brand-new Estadio Sonora and meeting with Caribbean Baseball Confederation president Juan Francisco Puello Herrera regarding potential usage by Major League teams in the future.

"They've done a great job," said Ng, the former Dodgers executive who was hired by MLB in March 2011. "I didn't really know what to expect, but having seen it, having gotten a tour, they've done a very nice job.

"I haven't seen a lot of international parks, but from what people are telling me, this is right up there, if not the best in Latin America."

Officials in Mexico have big aspirations for Estadio Sonora, a 16,000-capacity ballpark that cost about $31 million and seemingly rivals any Cactus League stadium in neighboring Arizona. They want to host D-backs Spring Training games, house some exhibition contests leading up to this year's World Baseball Classic and, perhaps down the road, be the site of a round in the Classic or a Major League Opening Day.

"I'm still trying to soak it in," Ng said of Major League teams using the ballpark this year. "It's probably out of my realm at this point, but I'm sure it'll get discussed at some point later on."

Stadium officials have also been involved with D-backs president Derrick Hall, and Hall's special assistant, former outfielder Luis Gonzalez, was also at Sunday's game.

Ng doesn't decide which park hosts rounds in the Classic, but added: "Certainly I think the facility is worthy of consideration."