The Arizona Diamondbacks have much to celebrate with yesterday’s announcement that Chase Field, the home of the D-backs, will be one of only two stadiums in the United States selected to host the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC).

Not only will defending WBC Champion Team USA open the first-round of play on March 11 at Chase Field, the D-backs will also welcome Team Canada, Team Mexico, Team Colombia and one additional qualifying team as well as their fans for Pool C, which will be played from March 11-15.

An even greater point of pride for the D-backs is that The Mexican Baseball Federation (Femebe) and the Mexican Baseball League announced Rodrigo López as the General Manager of Team Mexico. Rodrigo, a former Major League pitcher, has been the D-backs’ Spanish radio analyst since 2014.

“This is extremely exciting news for the Arizona Diamondbacks family,” said D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall. “I am so proud of Rodrigo as an accomplished pitcher and broadcaster for our organization and salute the Mexico Baseball Federation for its selection of such a passionate, experienced, and knowledgeable leader. There is no doubt his commitment and preparedness will make the roster he creates a competitive one to be reckoned with. We wish him and his team the best of luck during the prestigious tournament.”

In addition to representing Team Mexico as a pitcher in the 2006, ’09 and ’13 World Baseball Classic, López played 11 seasons in the Major Leagues, where he pitched for the San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies, Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs from 2000-12. The Chandler, Ariz. resident spent the 2010 season with the D-backs and led the team with 33 starts and 200.0 innings pitched.

Fans will have the option to buy tickets when ticket packages go on sale Oct. 6 at dbacks.com/wbc. A complete WBC 10-game ticket package includes all WBC Games at Chase Field. The 5-game WBC game ticket package gives fans an option to choose from either the 5-day game ticket package or 5-night game ticket package.

Single-game tickets to the 2023 WBC Chase Field games will go on sale at a later date.