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MLB to Move Puerto Rico Games Over Zika Virus Concerns

The MLB Players' Union will be making donations to programs that combat the Zika virus in Puerto Rico.

Major League Baseball has decided to move this month's scheduled Pirates-Marlins series out of Puerto Rico due to players' unions concerns over the Zika virus. Heeding players' requests, league commissioner Rob Manfred has relocated the games to Miami's Marlins Park from May 30-31, Associated Press reports.

While it may seem a bit overly cautious on the players' behalf, Puerto Rico has had 785 confirmed cases of the virus, which has been proven to cause a rare birth defect microcephaly. While the disease itself often exhibits mild symptoms, the birth defects are serious, and worrying.

"You trust the process that the union and the league is going to do what's best for everyone and make sure they take care of everyone," Marlins Manager Don Mattingly said, according to AP.

Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro García Padilla, clearly upset by the situation, told the newspaper El Nuevo Dia, "It's ironic that athletes are willing to go to Brazil to the Olympics and don't want to come to Puerto Rico." The games were going to be at least a temporary financial boon for the island, which is currently struggling through a long-running economic crisis and has a $72 billion debt.

Associated Press also reported Manfred and former players plan to make a visit to Puerto Rico later in the month to hold youth clinics and various other events. Additionally, the players' union promised to donate money to programs that combat the Zika virus in Puerto Rico.