MLB Moves Puerto Rico Games To Miami

Concerns about the Zika virus have led to Major League Baseball moving two games scheduled to be played in Puerto Rico later this month to Miami, MLB and the players’ union said Friday.

The games between the Pirates and Marlins were originally slated for May 30-31 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. Now they’ll be played at Marlins Park.

According to a joint release, the players’ union requested the change of venue because of concerns about contracting and potentially transmitting the disease.

“Commissioner Manfred and the MLBPA fully understand the disappointment by those in Puerto Rico to the relocation of the games,” the league and players’ union announced. “MLB and the Players Association did everything possible to adequately address the concerns raised by players and still play the games in Puerto Rico, but despite extensive efforts, they were unable to develop a workable solution.”

A 70-year-old Puerto Rican man died from complications of the Zika virus in February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Puerto Rico Department of Health said in late April, the first known death from Zika in the U.S. or its territories.