During his two decades in baseball, Derek Jeter was the face of the sport. Now, even years after retirement, the sport is asking the ex-Yankees shortstop to reprise that role in a goodwill trip to Havana, Cuba.
On March 22, the Tampa Bay Rays will travel to Cuba to play an exhibition game against Cuban National Team at Estadio Latinoamericano. Among those in attendance with the Rays on the trip: Jeter, Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred, Joe Torre, Cuban-born baseball dignitaries Luis Tiant and ex-Yankees coach Jose Cardenal.
The Rays' trip will mark the first visit to Cuba by an MLB franchise since the Baltimore Orioles played an exhibition game against the Cuban National Team on March 28, 1999.