Major League Baseball

Dodgers great Fernando Valenzuela becomes U.S. citizen

Published Jul. 23, 2015 5:11 a.m. ET

foxsports

Thirty-five years after making his major-league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Fernando Valenzuela has achieved another major milestone.

The Dodgers pitching great raised his right hand and took an oath of allegiance to the U.S. alongside approximately 8,000 others at a ceremony on Wednesday, officially becoming a U.S. citizen 36 years after he first entered the country.

The Dodgers and @USCIS proudly congratulate & welcome Fernando Valenzuela as a #NewUScitizen! http://t.co/D5L1xZOXm3 pic.twitter.com/FeeyWFJAme
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 22, 2015

Valenzuela's wife, Linda, was also granted her U.S. citizenship a few months ago.

The 54-year-old pitcher who became an instant hit in Los Angeles in his first full season in the majors in 1981 could have chosen to have a private ceremony, but instead opted to join the multitudes of fellow Angelenos in the mass ceremony on Wednesday.

Valenzuela, who was born in Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico on Nov. 1, 1960, played a total of 17 seasons in MLB, 11 of which he spent with the Dodgers.

@Dodgers pitching legend Fernando Valenzuela just became a #NewUScitizen in downtown Los Angeles today! pic.twitter.com/VUgcjTuWVF
— Claire Nicholson (@USCISMediaLA) July 22, 2015

As a member of the Blue Crew, Valenzuela went 141-116 with a 3.31 ERA and 1,759 strikeouts in 2,348 2/3 innings, tossing 107 complete games and 29 shutouts in 320 starts.

(h/t Dodgers Insider)