MLB heads to London with Sean Manaea set for new milestone

When Sean Manaea takes the mound at London Stadium wearing the Mets jersey, he will be joining a select group of MLB players. The Mets star will become one of three players to pitch in four different countries in regular-season MLB games. In 2019 in Monterrey, Mexico, Trevor Cahill and Wade Miley became the first MLB pitchers to start games in four different countries. Now, Manaea will be joining this exclusive club, taking his talent to new, global stages and breaking down borders.

London welcomes the Mets and the Phillies

Manaea’s international journey began in Toronto, facing the Blue Jays as a member of the Oakland Athletics. In 2016, during his debut season, he shone as a reliever, and his first start in July 2017 was spectacular, with seven dominant innings and seven strikeouts. His second international experience, in last year’s Mexico Series between the Giants and the Padres, was a challenge at the altitude of the Mexican capital, where he allowed four runs in two innings.

With roots in American Samoa, Manaea carries with him a story of perseverance and resilience. His father emigrated after serving in the US Army during the Vietnam War, and Sean, like his father, has learned to live with a suitcase always ready for the next destination, thanks to baseball.

Manaea arrives in London with a 3-2 record and a 3.63 ERA, ready to face Ranger Suárez. This series between the Mets and the Phillies in the English capital is part of Major League Baseball’s ambitious effort to expand its borders and conquer new markets.

MLB around the globe

The 2024 MLB season began with an exciting miniseries in South Korea between the Dodgers and Padres, followed by games in Mexico City with the Astros and Rockies. Now, London Stadium, purpose-built for the 2012 Olympic Games, is transformed into a diamond, continuing MLB’s international vision.

Local support has been crucial. In 2017, the London government provided a $380,000 grant to attract MLB, and the Yankees and Red Sox played the league’s first game in Europe in 2019. Additionally, the city has contributed financially to the “legacy program” from MLB, ensuring that the impact is lasting.

Last year, the series between the Cardinals and Cubs generated an economic boost of $67 million for London. With an average attendance of 55,000, 71 percent of attendees were from the United Kingdom. The MLB reported that #LondonSeries was trending worldwide on MLB merchandise sales in Great Britain increased 43% compared to the previous year, according to a report published by news agency, Associated Press .

The Mets arrived in London in the middle of a winning streak, after beating the National 9-1 and sweeping the series. Like the Mets, the Phillies also come off a sweep, limiting the Brewers to just two runs in three games, with a recent 2-0 victory.

The stage is set. Sean Manaea, a true master of the four borders, is ready to write his name in baseball history, taking his talent and passion to new horizons and proving that the sport has no limits.