Marlins and Yankees to play exhibition games in Panama at Rod Carew National Stadium

11/12/13, "Marlins, Yankees to play spring exhibition games in Panama," Sun-Sentinel, Juan C. Rodriguez, Miami Marlins Blog

Rod Carew Nat. Stadium

"The Marlins are going international next spring. According to a league source, the Marlins and Yankees will play a pair of exhibition games in Panama City March 15-16. An official announcement is expected in the coming weeks.

Though the Marlins like to think of themselves as the team of the Americas, they should probably expect pro-Yankees crowds at Rod Carew National Stadium. National hero and recently retired closer Mariano Rivera is one of 53 native Panamanians to appear in the majors according to Baseball-Reference.com.

Among those still active: Bruce Chen, Carlos Ruiz, Manny Corpas, Ruben Tejada, Randall Delgado and Christian Bethancourt. Next to the Hall of Fame-bound Rivera and Carew, who was inducted in 1991, among more recent Panamanian standouts was Carlos Lee, who concluded his 14-year major league career with the Marlins in 2012.

At least one Marlin knows his way around Rod Carew National Stadium, which opened in 1999.

Donovan Solano represented Colombia in the last World Baseball Classic and played there during the qualifying round in Nov. 2012.

This won’t be the first time the Marlins depart Florida during spring training. In 2004, they had a two-game exhibition series against the Houston Astros at Estadio Foro Sol in Mexico City." image, Murray Cook's Field & Ballpark blog / November 12, 2013)