Leonys Martin accomplished his goal of playing major league baseball in 2011 when he signed with the Rangers, but not before what court documents and the U.S. Justice Department describe as a harrowing ordeal in which he was held for ransom in Mexico while his family members were kept under surveillance in South Florida.

Three people have been indicted in Miami on federal charges of hostage-taking and extortion conspiracy, counts that carry potential life prison sentences if they are convicted, and Martin himself is suing his alleged kidnappers for the return of more than $1.3M he has already paid them.