The Seattle Mariners will open their 2019 season in Japan.
They announced the schedule move Tuesday morning, saying they’ll face the Oakland Athletics next March 20-21 in Tokyo as part of a two-game series in the Tokyo Dome.
Rumors of the overseas venture had circulated for a while, and the official announcement marks their second schedule trip to the Toyko Dome since the Mariners played their opening series there in 2012 against the A's.
“Our organization has a long and special relationship with Japan,” Mariners president and CEO Kevin Mather said in a press release. “This will be another memorable experience for our players, our organization and Major League Baseball.