Nelson Cruz Just Became a Citizen and Can’t Wait to Vote

Nelson Cruz #23 of the Seattle Mariners is congratulated by teammates after scoring on a hit by Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners off of relief pitcher Will Harris #36 of the Houston Astros during the sixth inning of a game at Safeco Field in Seattle, Wash. on Sept. 6, 2017. Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

Major League Baseball star Nelson Cruz announced that he’s officially a United States citizen on the morning of Oct. 15 on his Instagram account.

The Seattle Mariners right fielder posted a photo of himself holding a small American national flag and his naturalization certificate. He wrote, “Mission accomplished. Next stop: Registering to vote.”

The 38-year-old Dominican Republic native has been in the MLB since 2005 and is a six-time All-Star. He also won the ALCS MVP award trophy in 2001.

Cruz wasn’t the only one on his team to recently become an official American. According to the Seattle Times, Felix Hernandez, the Mariners pitcher just become a citizen in September of this year.

Hernandez was one of 75 people from 34 countries to become citizens at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Seattle on Monday, according to the Seattle Times.

He told the news outlet that “it means a lot.”

“Now, I am proud to be an American. Just happy, and so proud to be an American.”