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Dream realized for Izquierdo, Tejera
By Jeff Miller. jamiller@herald.com.
The Miami Herald
How could it happen out here? Of all places? The sweetest story of this
still-infant Marlins season.
In the bullpen? Where barely a week ago there were boos? And anger? And
failures spectacular enough to be flaming?
But there they were Wednesday -- Michael Tejera and Hansel Izquierdo --
their unlikely journey of unlikely twists ending in this most unlikely of
places.
''Unbelievable, huh?'' Tejera said. "We always had a dream, but who
would believe a dream like this?''
They've been teammates before, these two relievers and friends, in Cuba and
in high school, but much more significantly, in escape. They defected on July 6,
1994, at Miami International Airport, during a trip with a Cuban junior team.
Aided by an uncle Izquierdo barely knew and wouldn't recognize, the scheme
had to involve specific clothing -- a black bandanna and New York Yankees
sweatshirt -- and code words -- "Si Yankees, no Fidel.''
From this unfamiliar start, they began pursuit of a typical dream. They
attended Miami Southwest High together and were drafted by the Marlins in
consecutive rounds -- Tejera in the sixth, Izquierdo the seventh -- in 1995.
The story was sweet and promising. Maybe too much so. After two years, their
paths turned in directions as opposite as the foul lines. Tejera continued in
the Marlins' system, reached the big leagues briefly in 1999, overcame elbow
surgery and returned to the majors this season.
Izquierdo was released by the Marlins, signed by the White Sox, released by
the White Sox, signed by the Indians, released by the Indians and signed by the
Crushers. That would be the Sonoma County Crushers in California. That would be
the independent Western League. That would be pro baseball oblivion.
''He always had the talent, but he screwed up,'' said Louie Eljaua, the
scout who signed both Izquierdo and Tejera. "He did some childish stuff,
broke some team rules. Just minor ones, but things you can't do. He ran out of
chances with the Marlins. I was upset, not at the team but at the kid.''
Two years ago, when he was in Sonoma County, Izquierdo called Eljaua, asking
for another chance. The Marlins sent a local scout. A short time later,
Izquierdo and Eljaua talked on the phone, their hour-long conversation ending
with Izquierdo in tears.
By now, his mother and brother had defected to Miami. He talked about
growing older, which was important. He promised to act grown up, which was
beyond important.
''I told him he couldn't let me down, couldn't make me look bad,'' said
Eljaua, now scouting for the Red Sox. "When you're burned once, you become
a little leery. But after that talk, I was convinced he meant what he said.''
So the Marlins re-signed their former draft pick and, after 16 victories in
the minors last year, Izquierdo now has arrived in the big leagues, taking the
roster spot of the disabled Julian Tavarez, giving the Marlins three Cuban
defectors (along with Vladimir Núñez) in their bullpen.
Eight years after finding freedom in the same airport, Izquierdo landed
Wednesday at the end of a rainbow only he could see. He was on the ground just a
few minutes before calling Eljaua to say thanks again.
At Pro Player Stadium, he found his jersey waiting, the one that will
celebrate his new life each time he pulls it on. Izquierdo is No. 62, the 2 for
his birth date -- Jan. 2 -- the 6 for his defection date -- July 6.
''This will be awesome,'' Izquierdo said. "This is what we dreamed all
along.''
The possibility occurred to Tejera after Tuesday's game, when Tavarez made
it known his arm was hurting. Tejera knew his buddy had been pitching well at
Double A Portland, so he called him.
The Marlins had phoned Izquierdo a few minutes earlier.
''All excitement,'' Tejera said of their late-night talk. "We knew we
were going to be together again in the place where we wanted to be from the
start. We're in Miami, with the Marlins, in the major leagues. We've both made
it. It's incredible.''
Tejera pitched Wednesday, allowed the tying run in a 7-5 loss to
Philadelphia. Izquierdo didn't as much as warm up.
Didn't matter, though.
For the newest Marlin, the mound wasn't the place to be on this night.
Not when the bullpen felt so much like home. | 
