Astros and Padres to play exhibition series in Mexico City

By Francisco Romero

The Houston Astros were one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball during the 2015 season, finishing with a record of 86-76 and making the playoffs as a Wild Card team in the American League.

It is a team with established stars such as second baseman Jose Altuve and Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel and a team with rising stars such as George Springer and the 2015 American League Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa.

2015 was like a coming out party for an organization that is designed to contend for many years to come.

The Astros are hitting the road this coming Spring Training and not just around the Grapefruit League, the Astros will showcase their talent in Mexico City.

At a press conference in the Capital of Mexico, Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association and Mexico City Mayor Dr. Miguel Mancera announced that the Astros will play two exhibition games vs. the San Diego Padres, March 26-27, at Estadio Fray Nano in Mexico City.  The stadium, which was recently renovated, is the home of the Diablos Rojos de Mexico of the Mexican Baseball League.

The two-game exhibition series is part of an ongoing collaboration between MLB, the MLBPA and the Mexico City Mayor’s Office to promote the sport of baseball in Mexico.

Astros All-Star second baseman Altuve and General Manager Jeff Luhnow took part in the press conference. Padres General Manager A.J. Preller and MLBPA Senior Advisor Omar Minaya were also in attendance.

The upcoming exhibition games will have special meaning to Luhnow, who was born and raised in Mexico. “I’m thrilled that the Astros will have the opportunity to play games in Mexico,” Luhnow said. “The Mexican people have a great love for baseball, so I know these games will be very well-received.”

The “Mexico City Series” will mark the return to Mexico for the Astros, who also appeared in the last MLB games played in Mexico City – a two-game Spring Training series against the Florida Marlins in 2004.