In a Place He Never Thought He’d Be, and Thriving

The Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez grew up in Cuba believing he’d never need to learn English. His tape measure homers do his talking for him.

HOUSTON — Growing up in Cuba, Yordan Alvarez was taught that the United States was a bad country. The thought was so ingrained in him that when he was 12 or 13, he said, he skipped English classes at school.

“Why would I go to an English class if I’m never going to the United States?” Alvarez said he told himself then.

Look at him now.