Overview

• The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox played the first of two exhibition games in the Dominican Republic, celebrating the deep connection between the country and Major League Baseball.
• Rays and Red Sox players, including Dominican natives, expressed immense pride and joy in playing in front of their home crowd and sharing their culture with teammates.
• The event featured cultural exchanges, such as Rafael Devers guiding his Red Sox teammates through Dominican culture and both teams participating in local baseball activities with children.
• The series is part of MLB's World Tour, aimed at connecting players with their roots and showcasing baseball's global appeal.
• Fans in the Dominican Republic and in Lawrence, Massachusetts, where a large Dominican community resides, celebrated the occasion with watch parties and community events.