Jose Fernandez, a native of Cuba, became a United States citizen Friday and was the keynote speaker during the ceremony for 140 other South Florida residents.

"This is a dream that I've had since I was little, and actually achieving it is really amazing," Fernandez said. "Having my family here and so much support from this amazing country, it's really fantastic."

The Miami Marlins presented Fernandez with an American flag that had flown over the team's stadium.