The Caribbean Professional Baseball Leagues Confederation is relocating the upcoming 2019 Caribbean Series because of the unstable political situation in Venezuela, according to The Associated Press.
Panama City will now host the event, Enrique Rojas of ESPN notes.
This year's tournament was originally scheduled for Feb. 2-8 in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. It will now take place from Feb. 4-10 at the Rod Carew stadium.
A movement to topple the socialist government of president Nicolas Maduro is creating civil unrest in Venezuela. Opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself president earlier this week.
On Friday, Major League Baseball asked its players and staff members "in the strongest terms" not to take part in the tournament if it remained in Venezuela, citing safety and security concerns. The United States is advising its citizens to avoid traveling to the country.
Despite the upheaval and MLB's warning against participating, Pedro Infante, Venezuela's sports minister, said on Saturday that players would be secure. He also urged the Confederation not to move the series, an appeal that was ignored.
The annual Caribbean Series features the champions of winter-ball leagues from Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. MLB players often participate in Latin American winter leagues, and many Caribbean Series teams will feature big-league talent.