DETROIT – Angels third baseman Yoán Moncada completed an 11-year journey from Cienfuegos, Cuba to U.S. citizenship on Wednesday in Miami. He took the citizenship test, which had him quite nervous, but he passed it with flying colors, and raised his hand while taking the oath that made it all official.
On his desire to become a U.S. citizen, Moncada said before the Angels' 6-5 loss to the Tigers on Friday night, through interpreter Manny Del Campo, “It started years ago, but last year I applied for the citizenship [test] and I had it this month.
“I was a little bit worried about the test. I was reading, studying, listening and everything. And now that I’ve passed it, I feel better.”
He paused, smiled and added, “And I feel great being an American.”
When asked who meant the most to him in the lengthly transition to his new country, Moncada didn’t hesitate while saying, “My mom [Caredad] and my dad [Manuel]. But I think mostly my dad. Since he played baseball, he was the one who helped me the most.”
His parents remain in Cuba. And while Yoán resides in the offseason in St. Petersburg, Fla., he said, “When the season’s over, I go to Cuba until the end of the [calendar] year [to visit].”
What was the hardest question on that all-important citizenship test?
“Honestly,” said Moncada, “because I studied a lot, none of them were hard. All the questions were history.”
Moncada, 30, left Cuba legally in 2014 and spent time in Guatemala before becoming eligible to sign with the Red Sox in 2015 for $31.5 million that was then a record-setting bonus for an international amateur.
Yasiel Puig, who defected from his same hometown in 2012 after three years of unsuccessful attempts, debuted with the Dodgers in 2013 to perhaps even greater fanfare than Moncada received.
Both learned the game in Cienfuegos, a beautiful and historic maritime city of more than 178,000 on the country’s southern coast. Puig also became a U.S. citizen in 2019.
When asked if he discussed citizenship with Puig, Moncada smiled and said, “I haven’t talked to him in years.”
Moncada grew up rooting for Puig and other Cubans between three and nine years his senior – talents such as José Abreu, Yoenis Cespedes, Aroldis Chapman, Jose Iglesias and current teammate and outfielder Jorge Soler, who is on the injured list.
When asked for his favorite players while growing up, Moncada said, “Freddy Cepeda – a guy I loved to watch play -- and then when he got here in the States [from the Dominican Republic], Robinson Canó.”
Frederich Cepeda, 44, became Cuba’s all-time leader in national tournament hits with his 2,503rd hit in April.
What did he think about as a boy, growing up in a time when Cubans had to defect – some in dramatic fashion – before reaching the U.S. and getting to play here professionally?
“My first thoughts were that I wasn’t planning to come here,” said Moncada. “I was 16 or 17 when I wanted to be a better player. When I became a better player, it came to my mind that I would come here to play.”
Moncada debuted with the Red Sox in 2016, was traded to the White Sox with three others for pitching star Chris Sale the next year, and is in his 10th MLB season. He signed with the Angels this year for $5 million, and is batting .221 with eight homers and 24 RBI.
The switch-hitter has been limited to swinging left-handed this year because of a knee injury.
“I’ve been hitting a few on the right side,” Moncada said of batting practice, “but it still bothers me. I don’t want to force anything on the right side. I want to feel good with my knee on the other left side.”
His best season was 2019 with the White Sox, when he batted .315 (third in the American League) and had other career-highs with 25 homers and 79 RBI. He’s batted .252 with 744 hits, 101 homers and 363 RBI for his career.
Moncada spent two days on the restricted list before being reinstated for Friday’s game.
“I’m happy to be back,” he said.
Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery, who celebrated his 56th birthday Friday, also was glad to have Moncada return.
“Anytime he’s in our lineup and anytime he’s on the field for us, we're a better team.” said Montgomery. "He’s had to battle through some stuff, and it’s not easy. But any time we get him in there, I’m appreciative of having him. And he’s done a good job of continuing to work through all that.”
And as for Moncada’s new U.S. citizenship?
“We should talk about it,” Montgomery said. “Especially in the climate we’re in. I think it’s an awesome statement. He was proud, and he wears it proudly … But he’s excited about it and, obviously, that lasts forever.
“Family-wise, it’s a personal achievement to celebrate."