For 28-year old Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Dayron Varona, the upcoming exhibition matchup against the Cuban national team isn’t just a diplomacy game displaying the cooling relations between two Cold War countries.
For him it’s about much more than that.
Varona, who is the Rays’ only Cuban-born player, made his first return to his native country since his mother and himself defected on a boat bound for Haiti three-years ago. And with his return, it meant a reunion with family members who he hasn’t seen for those three-years.
After 3 years apart, @DayronVarona is reunited with his family in La Habana. #RaysInCuba pic.twitter.com/Bw3sUvWMxK
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) March 21, 2016
Varona, who hasn’t seen action above Double-A was petitioned by Chris Archer and Evan Longoria to be added to the travel squad in order to make the trip.
“I still can’t believe it,” Varona said in Spanish about the trip. “Since I left, I haven’t heard that joy that Cuban people have.”
Obviously the best things in baseball are those things that happen off the diamond.
h/t: For the Win
