No exhibition game between Cuba and Orioles in 2015
On April 27 Cuban Antonio Becalli Garrido, president of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) announced that there would be a friendly game between the Cuban national team and the Baltimore Orioles.
Despite announcement from INDER president in Cuba, MLB says MLB and the Orioles have no plans to play any exhibition games in Cuba in 2015.
— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) May 27, 2015
But now Heriberto Suarez Pereda, National Commissioner of Baseball, announced at www.trabajadores.cu (Cuban website that means workers) that a friendly match between the Cuban natonal team and the O’s will be postponed until 2016. When Becalli Garrido announced the news, MLB was quick to deny it. And in this case it seems that they new that the news was pure speculation.
Since the relationship with Cuba and the USA has thawed, many baseball clubs and organizations focus on playing games against teams from the island. The Biloxi Shuckers’ owner planned to have a baseball week like tournament with a Cuban team.
If the game(s) will be played in 2016, it will be the first time since 1999 that the both teams will meet. Back then, Orioles’ owner Pete Angelos pushed hard to make this happen. Eventually both teams played a game in Havana (3-2 for the O’s) and one in Baltimore (12-6 win for Cuba).
Source: Universo Beisbol