Tigers Iglesias, Martin sworn in as citizens
Detroit holds ceremony on field at a time when immigration issue is debated in USA
DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers blew a three-run lead in the eighth inning and eventually lost on a home run in the ninth. Still, Monday was a day Jose Iglesias and Leonys Martin might look back on fondlyfor years.
Before the game against Oakland, the Tigers played hostto a ceremony on the field in which a group of people were sworn in as American citizens. Iglesias and Martin, both natives of Cuba, were amongthem.
“I will never forget about my country, but it’s amazing to be part of United States,” said Martin, 30, an outfielder. “Being able to do it here in the ballpark, right in front of the fans, that was really emotional.”
Martin played for Cuba in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. After defecting, he received a $15.5 million, fiveyear contract with the Texas Rangers in 2011. This is his firstseason with the Tigers.
Iglesias,28, shortstop, made his major league debut in 2011 with the Boston Red Sox. He was traded to the Tigers in 2013, and he can look back nowat the daunting process of gettingused to a new country.
“It’s hard, man. You came. You face a new culture, face a new language, facing new food, new everything,” Iglesias said before the game. “Still learning. I’ve been here for10 years, and I’m still learning.”
Iglesias and Martin had their ceremony at a time when a national debate over President Donald Trump’s immigration policy has been dominating the news. Iglesias wouldn’twade into that.
“I don’t really have a comment on that. I try to stay away from that,” Iglesias said. “If there’s anything I can do to help a human being in the end of the day, I will do it, but I try tostay away from politics.”
Manager Ron Gardenhire wasexcited about ceremony.
“It’s really cool. These guys are really proud of that. I’m just hoping they can get to Canada,” he said. “They’ve lost their visas and green cards now once they’ve taken this citizenship, so they have toget a passport so they can go with us to Canada here in a fewdays.”
The Tigers play a fourgame series starting Friday nightat Toronto .
For a brief moment, it appeared the game Monday against the Athletics might unfoldin storybook fashion — with Martin driving in Iglesias with the winning run. The score was tied at 1-1 in the seventh inning, and Martin hit a drive to center. Iglesias raced around from first, but he had to stop at third when the ball bounced over the wall fora double.