The team announced they will face the San Diego Padres, marking the first time the Diamondbacks have played in Mexico since 2019. They were originally slated to meet the Padres in 2020, but the series was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MLB’s push to expand internationally has accelerated in recent years, particularly since the pandemic. With two National League West rivals that draw significant Mexican and Mexican American support, the series is expected to draw strong interest.
The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies lined up before playing one of two spring training games in Monterrey, Mexico. © Daniel Gonzalez/The Republic
The Diamondbacks have long received support from Latino communities across the Southwest, especially in Arizona, which has one of the largest Mexican-American populations in the country. Playing a series in Mexico strengthens ties not just with Arizonans but with fans in Mexico who have followed the team from afar.
Baseball is also one of the most popular sports in Mexico, and many MLB greats, including pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, have hailed from the country. For fans who don’t have the resources to travel north to catch a major league game, this series offers a rare opportunity.
A baseball fan poses for a photo with Baxter the Bobcat, the Arizona Diamondbacks team mascot. Dbacks in Mexico © Daniel Gonzalez/The Republic
Arizona may also view the trip as a chance to elevate its profile at a time when baseball is growing in popularity globally. While the Diamondbacks aren’t the New York Yankees or Los Angeles Dodgers, they have their own history and talent to showcase abroad.
The series is not only a celebration of baseball, but of a culture where the sport continues to thrive.