Cuban defector set for US pro debut

Leonys Martin, is set to make his minor-league US debut Leonys Martin, who defected from Cuba's national team in Japan last August, is set to make his minor-league US professional debut Thursday and could yet join the Texas Rangers this season.
The 23-year-old outfielder signed the second-largest Major League Baseball contract given to any Cuban defector, a five-year deal worth $15.5 million, and will play for Thursday for Frisco, two levels below the major leagues.

"We look at Leonys as a piece of the puzzle in a big picture," said Rangers general manager Jon Daniels. "We're not looking for a saviour. We're looking for one more guy that can compete for a job. We look at him as a winning player."
Martin hit .450 with two doubles and eight walks and scored 14 runs for Cuba in last year's World University Championships in Japan. He also played a reserve role for Cuba in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Last season, Martin batted .326 with 23 doubles, 10 home runs and 48 runs batted in over 82 games for Villa Clara of the Cuban league. He averaged .314 at the plate in his past five seasons in Cuba.
"Today is an unforgettable moment," Martin said through a translator. "The idea was to get to the highest level of baseball and I'm very proud of being in this organization and having my dream come true.

"I'm very thankful to be here."

The only Cuban player with a richer US deal than Martin is Cincinnati pitcher Aroldis Chapman, who last year signed a six-year deal worth $30.25 million with the Reds.
Martin is likely to be a leadoff hitter for the Rangers' minor-league team but he is seen as having talent that could allow him to adapt quickly and join the defending American League champions as they press on with a repeat bid.
"We're ready him to give him the next challenge to get his career started," Daniels said.

Martin's father and girlfriend are in the United States while the remainder of his family is in Cuba. Overcoming language barriers from Spanish to English will be the toughest thing, Martin said.
"The language is definitely the most difficult, but it's just a matter of wanting to learn and I really want to learn English," Martin said. "The baseball part of it is just to continue to play the way I play.
"I'm going to give 100 percent as I have all the time and I'm proud of being a Cuban athlete."