The Dodgers’ trip to China next week will be delayed by a day.
Originally scheduled to make the long flight to Beijing on Monday, the team will depart from Orlando the following day because the original charter company contracted by Major League Baseball didn’t receive approval to land in China before its deadline.
Now, the Dodgers will bus to Orlando on Monday and spend the night before departing on another charter.
Team spokesman Josh Rawitch said the team will arrive about 20 hours later than originally scheduled.
“The only thing it really does is eliminate the off-day there,” manager Joe Torre said. “It just makes sightseeing a little tighter. We’ll work out here (Monday) before heading to Orlando.”
Rawitch said a visit to the Great Wall of China still is planned.
“I did the Wall in January,” Torre said, referring to his trip to Beijing for a news conference to discuss the series.
The team also announced that players from seven countries will make the trip for the first major league exhibition games in that country. The Dodgers will face the San Diego Padres on March 15-16 at Beijing’s Olympic baseball venue.
Pitcher Hong-Chi Kuo and shortstop Chin-Lung Hu are both from Taiwan. Among the others listed on the travel party are infielders Nomar Garciaparra, Ramon Martinez and Mark Sweeney; outfielders Andruw Jones and Matt Kemp; and non-roster pitchers Chan Ho Park and Tanyon Sturtze.
