D-backs scheduled to face Rockies in Las Vegas spring series
Jan 14, 2022, 1:34 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (4) throws to home plate in the bottom of the fifth inning during the baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Houston Astros on September 19, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies have scheduled a spring training series on March 18-19 in Las Vegas.
Whether the expected trip will happen remains to be seen.
MLB locked out players Dec. 2 following the expiration of the sport’s collective bargaining agreement. Negotiations on core economics broke off until Thursday, when MLB made a new offer that resulted in little evident progress.
Signings and trades have been halted, and spring training will not start as scheduled on Feb. 16 unless there is an agreement.
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If they happen, the games for the Big League Weekend (Part 2) are set to take place Friday, March 18, at 6:05 p.m. (PT) and Saturday, March 19, at 1:05 p.m. at Las Vegas Ballpark, the home of the Las Vegas Aviators.
“We are grateful to be considered by Major League Baseball to represent the league during this series, as we have with past trips to other great destinations like Australia and Mexico,” Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall said in a press release.
“We have a tremendous following in Las Vegas, due to our close proximity, and we look forward to our local passionate D-backs fans having the opportunity to travel and be in attendance as well.”
The D-backs played in Las Vegas for the event in 2001-02. Arizona played the Los Angeles Dodgers in front of sellout crowds of more than 11,000 fans in each of those years.
The Diamondbacks were last scheduled to visit Mexico City to face the San Diego Padres in 2020 spring training before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the trip.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
