Martinez, Ortiz highlight weekend of pomp
The Red Sox are set to play two exhibition games against the Rays this weekend in the Dominican Republic — their first such trip in more than two decades.
The event is a homecoming for many current and former Sox players, and the team has a full weekend planned, including events both in Santo Domingo and in the Boston area.
The Red Sox are hosting a free community watch party at Terra Luna Cafe in Lawrence for Saturday’s game. The event will include photo opportunities with World Series trophies, plus food and drinks, music by local DJ Angel Alba, and family-friendly activities.
Fans who attend the event will receive two free tickets to a Red Sox game on April 10 or
April 11. Doors open for the watch party at 4:30 p.m.
First pitch for Saturday’s game is 5:05 p.m., and Sunday’s contest will start at 1:05 p.m. The games are at Santo Domingo’s legendary Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal, and an estimated 10,000 fans are expected each day.
Red Sox legends David Ortiz and Pedro Martinez will throw out ceremonial pitches ahead of Saturday’s contest, and the celebrity appearances don’t stop there.
Dominican singer Natti Natasha, whose latest album “Nasty Singles” has surpassed 500 million streams, will make appearances at the ballpark and other promotional events across the weekend, including one in the DJ booth during Sunday’s game.
Grammy-nominated singer Manny Cruz will perform the Dominican national anthem before
Saturday’s game, and Zacarias Ferreira will perform Sunday. La Coral Mixta Domínico-Americana, an internationally renowned chorus based in Santo Domingo, will perform the US national anthem in the stadium before both games. Television personality Jhoel Lopez and actress Gabi Desangles will serve as in-game hosts throughout the weekend.
The parties continue after both games, with a fireworks show at the stadium following Saturday’s game and a performance from DJ Adoni after Sunday’s game.
This trip to the Dominican Republic is a result of the most recent collective bargaining negotiations between MLB and the Players Association in 2022, during which players were adamant in their desire to play games in big league uniforms in front of friends and families in their home countries, and particularly in the Dominican
— which, despite a population of just 11.4 million, had more than 100 players on big league rosters on Opening Day in 2023.
The Sox were keen to make the trip, celebrating former stars such as Ortiz and Martinez as well as current standouts Rafael Devers and Brayan Bello.
Roster adjustments
The Red Sox on Friday optioned righthanded pitchers Wikelman Gonzalez and Luis Perales to Triple A Worcester, leaving them with 54 players in major league training camp. Gonzalez spent 2023 in Single A and Double A, while Perales spent last season with two Single A teams.