Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic are powerhouses in exporting baseball talent to the major leagues. On Nov. 15, Citi Field in New York will host the “RD vs PR Showdown” to showcase that talent, when an All-Star team of Puerto Rican-born players takes on a Dominican All-Star selection.

The game is organized by the Puerto Rico Professional Baseball Players Association (APPPR) and the National Federation of Professional Baseball Players of the Dominican Republic (FENAPEPRO), in partnership with the New York Mets and approved by Major League Baseball. The rosters, which have not been finalized, will consist of Major League Baseball hopefuls with no guarantee of getting to the bigs.

And the game isn’t just about pride — it’s about opportunity.

Carlos Delgado, one of Puerto Rico’s most accomplished first basemen and a candidate for the Hall of Fame’s Contemporary Era ballot, will serve as honorary manager of the Puerto Rican team. In tribute, all Puerto Rican players will wear Delgado’s number 21. Delgado played 17 MLB seasons from 1993 to 2009 and had 473 home runs.

“I feel very honored … for the dedication, and I’m very happy because it’s another opportunity to continue spreading baseball, and this time, before an audience with incredible knowledge of baseball, such as the New York fans,” Delgado told The Athletic.

Reflecting on his time with the Mets, he added, “It was my first opportunity to be in the playoffs, which was in 2006, and the Mets fans gave me a lot of support.”

Carlos Gomez, a two-time MLB All-Star who began his career with the New York Mets in 2007, will manage the Dominican team. “The fact that it’s outside my country and against such a competitive opponent as the Puerto Rico team makes the commitment and learning even greater, because I’m facing my former teammates,” he told The Athletic. “For me, it’s an honor to go to the city and stadium where I was given the opportunity to become a professional for the first time.”

Gomez also sees the game as a stepping stone: “We are opening a very big door with the simple fact that the New York Mets are giving us the opportunity to play in their stadium. This is a great opportunity in which you expose yourself more to the baseball world and show that you have knowledge and that you have the goal of becoming a future manager.”

One confirmed player on the Dominican roster is eight-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner Robinson Canó. The 43-year-old second baseman will compete in what is expected to be his final organized game on U.S. soil — in the city where he is still remembered fondly as a member of the Yankees’ 2009 World Series championship team. To honor Canó, every player on the Dominican team will wear his number 24.

“Seeing all the guys put on the 24, it’s like I look back and say, ‘Thank you, God, for that long road I’ve walked, and rewarded me in that way,’” Canó told The Athletic.

Despite challenges, including a PED suspension that forced him to miss the entire 2021 season while with the Mets, Canó’s passion for the game remains undiminished.

“It means a lot to me,” Canó said ahead of the chance to play once more in New York. “It’s where I was really given the opportunity to show the world my talent, my skills as a baseball player, to play on both sides.”

In September, Canó reached another milestone while playing for Mexico’s Diablos Rojos.

“The team’s hitting coach, Charlie, comes out applauding, and I say ‘What happened?’” Canó recalled.

“‘You are at 4,000 (pro hits)!’” Canó said the coach told him. “It’s something I can tell my children, my grandchildren.”

Beyond celebrating legends, the Nov. 15 game will provide a platform for emerging talent. Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic continue to produce MLB stars.

“We can say that Mets players Francisco Lindor and Edwin Díaz are stars in baseball right now,” Delgado said. “Kiké Hernández, who just won the World Series. We have other talents like José Berríos. We look at Carlos Correa, Javier Báez, who had an excellent performance with Detroit. The event brings, as we say, a little noise, and will draw the eyes of scouts to that game.

“We have many players who are on the verge of making it to the big leagues and establishing themselves, or others who are looking for a contract, either because they are free agents or their contract has expired. This serves as a platform for them to showcase their talent, and hopefully they will be given that opportunity and can continue pursuing their dream.”

Canó reflected on the pride of seeing younger generations thrive in their MLB roles.

“Look at (Juan) Soto, for example, a clean season, he finished 30-30,” he said, highlighting Soto and other star players from the Dominican Republic. “Vladdy (Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) in Toronto, what a great playoff. (Fernando) Tatis in San Diego, the way they are all representing this country right now, it’s really incredible.”