Varona, starting in right field, received an ovation when he was introduced and another -- including from his teammates -- as he stepped in to lead off the game against Yosvani Torres. He swung at Torres' first pitch, popped out to first base and returned to a dugout full of high-fives.
The 28-year-old Varona defected from Cuba by boat with his mother after playing eight years in the Cuban National Series, and signed with the Rays.
Varona split last season, his first with the organization, between Class A Advanced Charlotte and Double-A Montgomery. A non-roster invite to Spring Training, Varona was included on the 34-man roster that traveled to Cuba at the suggestion of Tampa Bay stars Chris Archer and Evan Longoria.