Leonys Martin feared for his life after being threatened by smugglers
Seattle Mariners outfielder Leonys Martin feared for his life after he was threatened by smugglers while trying to enter the United States. Martin told a Miami grand jury that he entered the U.S. without valid papers because his “life was in danger,” according to the Seattle Times.
That testimony came during the trial of Bartolo Hernandez and Julio Estrada. Both men are charged with conspiracy and alien smuggling after allegedly bringing Martin, and other baseball players, into the United States.
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Like most Cuban players looking to play in Major League Baseball, Martin had to establish residency in a third country before he could receive a contract. He was smuggled out of Cuba in 2010. His group settled in Cancun until Martin could establish residency and sign a contract.
While in Cancun, Martin was threatened by men who broke into his apartment with crowbars, according to the Times.
While in Cancun, Martin said “eight or nine” men who said they were armed broke into his apartment with a crowbar and pressured him to leave with them. Martin refused and the men eventually left, but he said the alleged smuggling ring decided after that to relocate a group of players to Monterrey, Mexico.
Following that incident, the group Martin was with moved to Monterrey in order to distance themselves from those kidnappers.
Martin eventually established residency in Mexico and signed a contract with the Texas Rangers. But before he received his visa, his group decided to walk across the Mexico/United States border. Martin gave border agents false information in order to gain entry into the country. He did so because he was worried something bad would happen if he remained in Mexico.
“I was afraid and I was prepared to say what I had to say,” Martin said of the interview. “We were afraid that I would be kidnapped, and that’s why we decided to cross the border.”
The 28-year-old outfielder has not reported to Mariners’ camp due to the trial. He’s expected to join the team soon, according to manager Scott Servais.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
