Leonys Martín is an accomplished veteran who has seen action in plenty of leagues worldwide and on the international stage with the Cuban National Team during the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Over his 18 years of organized baseball in the Serie Nacional, MLB, NPB and Liga Mexicana de Béisbol he hit .265 with 237 longballs, 847 RBIs and 299 stolen bases.
This winter he started the season with the Tiburones de La Guaira leading the team in homeruns (8) and was second in runs batted in before he was inexplicably released by the Venezuelan ballclub. The slugger was not unemployed for long. A few days later he returned to familiar surroundings, the Tigres del Licey and Quisqueya Stadium in Santo Domingo.
In his only appearance with the team thus far, he collected two hits and stole a base in a Licey loss to their arch-rival Águilas Cibaeñas. With the felines playing good ball and only two games out of first place in the circuit expect Martín to give the team looking to three-peat as league champions a nice jolt down the stretch.
Tell me about the reception you have received by the team and the lockeroom environment here with Licey?
Super grateful for the opportunity to be back with the team. I am thankful to be here. The team is in a good moment, the atmosphere is great and I want to contribute nothing but positive things to this team.
How has the LIDOM helped you grow as a player?
I think I owe the success of playing several years in the Major Leagues to the Dominican Republic and the Tigres del Licey for giving me the opportunity to play here. They helped me plenty on my path to the big leagues.
Are there no restrictions for Leonys Martín for the season?
No, I’m at a point where I can do what I want with my life, play wherever I want. I am here because of a personal decision and my love of the Tigres del Licey. I’m on my own, I was practically retiring and I came back. My last day with the team is when we are LIDOM champions, God willing.
Finally, do you have a message for the Tigres del Licey fans?
Grateful for the welcome, I have received many words of gratitude for what I did in the past with the Tigers from the fans. I hope I do not disappoint them. You know that there will be good days and bad days on the field, but my desire to play will always be there.