Marlins to play series in Puerto Rico in 2020

For the first time in 10 years, the Marlins will be heading to Puerto Rico.

Next season, Miami will play a three-game series versus the New York Mets in San Juan.

The regular-season series will take place April 28-30 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. They will count as home games for the Marlins on the 2020 schedule, which was released Monday.

“Miami serves as the gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America,” Marlins CEO Derek Jeter said in a statement. “We are grateful for the chance to showcase the new Miami Marlins organization to our neighbors in Puerto Rico.

“We are looking forward to the opportunity of celebrating Puerto Rico’s rich baseball heritage and passion for the game and continue our mission to grow the game of baseball in our community while fostering the shared love for our National Pastime.”

The Marlins and Mets also played a three-game series in San Juan, Puerto Rico during the 2010 season at the same venue. The Marlins won two of the three in front of an average attendance of 18,559. Both franchises traveled to in Puerto Rico in 2003 and 2004 as well when the Montreal Expos played a portion of their home schedule at Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

The series will serve as a homecoming for Marlins second baseman Isan Diaz, who was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Diaz lived his early childhood there before his family moved to Massachusetts when he was 4. One of Miami’s top prospects, the 23-year-old infielder made his MLB debut last week.

In an additional schedule change, all MondayThursday home games in April, May and September will be moved up 30 minutes earlier to 6:40 p.m.

The Marlins will open the 2020 season versus the Philadelphia Phillies on March 26 as part of a seven-game home stand.

For the third straight season, Miami will be begin at home on Opening Day.

As part of interleague play, the Marlins will face the American League West next season, playing the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers.