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A native of Cuba, Puig, 28, defected from Cuba in 2012 after several failed attempts.

Indians' Yasiel Puig becomes U.S. citizen on last day of three-game suspension

Indians outfielder Yasiel Puig, who is currently serving a three-game MLB suspension, has made use of his time away from the game.

The native of Cuba on Wednesday became a United States citizen.

Puig, traded to the Indians by the Reds last month, posted a photo mid-day Wednesday on Twitter showing him holding a small U.S. flag with the caption: “Thank you God for this great opportunity to be an American citizen.” The Indians tweeted their congratulations about "Puig our citizen."

Thank you ? God for this great opportunity to be an American citizen ??????? pic.twitter.com/346P6g89LX
— Yasiel Puig (@YasielPuig) August 14, 2019

He successfully defected from Cuba in 2012 after several failed attempts.

An Indians spokesman said Puig's naturalization ceremony took place in Miami, The Associated Press reported.

Puig, 28, on Monday withdrew his appeal of the suspension, stemming from his involvement in a wild July 30 brawl with the Pirates while he was with the Reds. He was traded to Cleveland hours later.

The Indians' afternoon game against the Red Sox on Wednesday was the third game of his suspension.

Puig is slashing .357/.413/.571 with a homer and six RBIs in 11 games with the Indians.

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