he may have no shot at making the rays opening day roster, but for one day outfielder daron verona is a celebrity. that's because verona returned to his hometown havana, a cuban who left to chase his baseball dream three years ago and in that time verona had not seen his family until late sunday night. and right in the middle of the lobby at the rays team hotel a baseball game took on new meaning. rays manager kevin cash once spoke about the challenges of this trip. reaction that we saw from the family with daron verona joining his family, i think it made everything worthwhile. 30 minutes after we get to the hotel this turns into a huge positive. everything else is kind of icing on the cake. >> reporter: verona is trying to land a spot in the rays minor league system. he has just three hits during spring training, but not only will he played in a packed stadium, he will be the rays leadoff hitter. cash was talked into bringing verona by a group of rays players including evan longoria who knows the big picture will take shape long after the final out on tuesday. >> i think the one comm

their every day job but once we got here and we the reaction that we saw from the family with daron verona. after we get this is a big positive. everything else is icing on the cake. >> he was concerned about how he may be received being he left three years ago. that was not an issue today. there were many fans on the field that embraced him and he expects the same reception tomorrow when he takeshe t field. the game is going at 2 tomorrow >> we're being embraced here. we walk the streets when we are veering beyond the tourist district. the mayor is here with the deputy mayor of st. pete and chief of staff as well. they're here for the rays but they are here with a mission on business to try to bring a cuban consulate to st. pete. coming up at 10 and 11. we'll take a look at the chances for doing that. what is done. we will look at the president's visit how it will pay off depending on the perspective in the months and the years ahead. the president's goal is to make changes and accelerate them to the point they will be indelible for his successors. we're reporting now live from cuba and m

daron ve rona. preturn to his country three pyears after leaving it. pthe reception for him has been pfantastic. phe's going to lead off and play pright field. pit's a moment for{ verona a long ptime coming p[speaking foreign language] p>> i never would have dreamed of pit. pto be here, i thank god for this popportunity. pit's something special. p>> much like the united states, pbaseball is cuba's pass time. pright across the state from the pstadium is a youth field. pnine and ten-year-old boys from paround the country gather to get pcoached up in a kids clinic by prays coaches. pfinally, take it from me, it's ptough to get around here. pif you can't speak the native planguage. pthat was a question i had for prays players. pi wanted to know since they've pknown about this trip, have they phad the opportunity to brush up pon spanish. pwhen i was young. plot of my roommates are spanish. pso i can get around a little pbit. p>> if you get lost, where is the pbaseball stadium? psay that in spanish. p>> donde esta el stadium. p>> in a havana cuba.{ p>> we got to meet the bolts pbetter halves. pgood cause coming up. ugh. i really shouldn't. no, you know what? i should. and i