Not a bad way to start your professional career in your new home.
Cuban import Leonys Martin showed Rangers fans a possible glimpse of the future Thursday night in Frisco.
Playing in his first professional game since defecting from Cuba, Martin had three hits, one RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in the Roughriders' 10-7 win over the Corpus Christi Hooks.
Martin was signed by the Rangers last week to a five-year, $15.5 million deal with a $5 million signing bonus.
Martin led off the bottom of the first for the Roughriders and stroked a double off the wall, 409 feet to dead center, in the first inning. In the third inning, Martin singled to center but was later thrown out trying to steal second. Martin came up in the eighth and smashed a double down the right field line for his first RBI.
After the game, he said he just wanted to do a good job and get the win.
Mission accomplished.
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Before last night’s first appearance on stage for the organization, Martin spent the last 10 days in Arizona and played in five extended spring training games, hitting .438 in those games.
So after a 3-for-5 night in his debut, the excitement is high for the Rangers latest import. Don’t be surprised to see Martin at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington at some point this season.
