Leonys Martín | |||
---|---|---|---|
Martín with the Texas Rangers in 2015
|
|||
Seattle Mariners | |||
Center fielder | |||
Born: Corralillo, Villa Clara, Cuba |
March 6, 1988 |||
|
|||
MLB debut | |||
September 2, 2011, for the Texas Rangers | |||
MLB statistics (through 2016 season) |
|||
Batting average | .252 | ||
Home runs | 35 | ||
Runs batted in | 167 | ||
Stolen bases | 108 | ||
Teams | |||
Leonys Martín Tápanes (born March 6, 1988) is a Cuban professional baseball center fielder in the Seattle Mariners organization. Born in Cuba, he played locally for Villa Clara of the Cuban National Series, and for the Cuban national baseball team in international competitions, including the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
While in Taiwan for the 2010 World University Baseball Championship, Martín defected from Cuba in order to become a Major League Baseball free agent. He signed with the Texas Rangers in 2011, and made his MLB debut later that season. The Rangers traded him to the Mariners after the 2015 season.
Martín was born in Villa Clara Province in Cuba. He was named after Lionel Richie, his mother's favorite musical artist. His father worked as a foreman for a fishing company, while his mother raised Martín and his four siblings, a brother and three sisters. Martín's father taught Leonys to play baseball.
Martin learned to play baseball from his father, who coached him in youth baseball. Martín played shortstop, second base and third base before becoming a center fielder.
At the age of 17, Martín joined Villa Clara in the Cuban National Series. He also played for the Cuban national baseball team. Martín earned $40 a week. In the 2009-2010 season, Martín batted .326 with 10 home runs, 23 doubles, and 48 runs batted in (RBI). In five seasons with Villa Clara, Martín batted .314.