Lakeland, Fla. — It had been eight years since Tigers center fielder Leonys Martin had been able to spend any quality time with his family and friends in Cuba. He last saw his parents, Oscar and Emily, is 2015, but it was a very dissatisfying, almost agonizing hello-goodbye visit.
“Eight years, man,” Martin said with a sad shake of his head. “I had a really, really fun time with my family. I was really happy to see my family and spend time with my friends.
The Cuban government has recently relaxed restrictions on citizens who had emigrated out of the country, so Martin was finally able go back and stay for an extended period of time.