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Randy Arozarena

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Arozarena and the second or maternal family name is González.
Randy Arozarena
Arozarena with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020
Seattle Mariners – No. 56
Left fielder
Born: (1995-02-28) February 28, 1995 (age 29)
Mantua, Cuba
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 14, 2019, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.254
Hits583
Home runs91
Runs batted in314
Stolen bases100
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Cuba
18U Baseball World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Taichung Team
Representing  Mexico
World Baseball Classic
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Miami Team

Randy Lia Arozarena González (born February 28, 1995) is a Cuban-born Mexican professional baseball outfielder for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays. He has represented the Mexican national team on the international level.

Arozarena moved from Cuba to Mexico in 2015, then signed with the Cardinals in 2016. He made his MLB debut in 2019 and was traded to the Rays before the 2020 season. That year, Arozarena set the MLB record for home runs in a single postseason with 10.[1] Four of those came against the Houston Astros in the 2020 American League Championship Series, netting him series MVP honors.[2] The following year, he won the AL Rookie of the Year award. He was named to his first All-Star Game in 2023, where he started in left field.[3]

Professional career

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Cuban and Mexican career

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During the 2013–14 and 2014–15 seasons, Arozarena played for Vegueros de Pinar del Río of the Cuban National Series. In his final season, he slashed .291/.412/.419 with three home runs, 24 runs batted in (RBI), and 15 stolen bases in 74 games played.[4]

In 2015, Arozarena defected from Cuba to Mexico on a small boat.[5] He had brief stints in the Mérida Winter League, in the Norte de México League, and with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League in 2016, before playing for the Mayos de Navojoa of the Mexican Pacific League during the winter.

St. Louis Cardinals

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Minor leagues

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Arozarena signed with St. Louis Cardinals as an international free agent on August 1, 2016 for $1.25 million.[6] He made his minor league debut in 2017, starting his first season in the United States with the Palm Beach Cardinals, with whom he was named a Florida State League All-Star,[7] before advancing to the Springfield Cardinals at the beginning of July.[8] He had a combined .266 batting average with 11 home runs, 49 RBI, and 18 stolen bases over 121 games with both clubs.[9] Following the season, he returned to the Mexican Pacific League to play for the Mayos de Navojoa, where he slashed .292/.366/.558 and led the league with 14 home runs in 65 games.[10] The Mayos made it to the championship series. Although the team did not win the series, Arozarena had a game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 6.[11]

Arozarena was a non-roster invitee to the Cardinals' 2018 spring training.[12] He began the season with the Memphis Redbirds. In July, he was selected to the 2018 All-Star Futures Game.[13] Arozarena also played 24 games in the middle of the season down with Springfield. He helped Memphis win the Pacific Coast League (PCL) title and was named a co-MVP of the PCL playoffs alongside teammate Tommy Edman.[14] Over 113 games between Memphis and Springfield, he batted .274/.359/.433 with 12 home runs, 49 RBI, and 26 stolen bases.[9] Arozarena returned to play for Mayos de Navojoa in 2018 for the third season, appearing in only 15 games.

2019 season

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Arozarena began the 2019 season on the injured list[15] after he suffered a fractured hand during spring training.[16] He returned to action in May with Springfield before being promoted back to Memphis in June.[17][18]

On August 12, 2019, the Cardinals selected Arozarena's contract and promoted him to the major leagues.[19] He made his major league debut on August 14 against the Kansas City Royals.[20] In 19 games with St. Louis, Arozarena hit .300 with one home run, two RBIs, and two stolen bases.[21]

Tampa Bay Rays

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2020 season

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On January 9, 2020, Arozarena was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays, along with José Martínez and the Cardinals’ competitive balance round A draft pick, for Matthew Liberatore, Edgardo Rodriguez, and the Rays’ competitive balance round B draft pick.[22] Over 23 games in the shortened 2020 regular season, Arozarena batted .281 with seven home runs and 11 RBIs.[21]

Arozarena took off in the expanded 2020 postseason. In Game 7 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) against the Houston Astros, Arozarena hit a two-run home run, passing Evan Longoria for most home runs by a rookie in the postseason.[23] Arozarena was named the MVP of the ALCS, the first rookie position player to win the award. In the series, he hit .321 with four home runs and six RBIs.[24] In the World Series, Arozarena hit home runs in the third, fourth, and sixth games, breaking the all-time record for most home runs in a single postseason.[25] In Game 3, he surpassed Derek Jeter for most hits by a rookie in the postseason.[26] In Game 5, he recorded his 27th hit in the postseason, surpassing Pablo Sandoval for the most hits in a single postseason.[27] Arozarena attributed his playoff power stroke to wearing a special pair of lucky cowboy boots, which he calls his "power boots."[28]

2021 season

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For the 2021 season, Arozarena batted .274/.356/.459 with 20 home runs, 69 RBIs, 20 stolen bases in 141 games. His on-base plus slugging (OPS) was 29 percent above league average.[29] In Game One of the American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox, Arozarena became the first player to hit a home run and steal home in the same playoff game.[30] Arozarena won the AL Rookie of the Year Award, the first Ray to do so since Wil Myers in 2013.[31]

2022 season

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In 2022, Arozarena stole 32 bases, tied for third in the majors, but he also led the major leagues by being caught stealing 12 times. He batted .269/.344/.463 with an OPS 24 percent better than the MLB average.[32]

2023 season

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The Rays created a "Randy Land" fan seating section behind Arozarena in left field early in the 2023 season.[33] Arozarena was voted by fans to be a starting outfielder in the MLB All-Star Game, the first All-Star Game selection of his career.[34] He also participated in the Home Run Derby, losing to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the final.[35] On August 12, Arozarena hit a walk-off single against Emmanuel Clase.[36] On August 31, Arozarena stole third base against the Miami Marlins and became the first MLB player to record three straight 20–20 seasons to begin his career.[37] He went 3-for-8 in the Wild Card Series, as the Rays were swept in two games by the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers.

2024 season

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Arozarena slumped to start 2024, batting .158 at the end of May.[38] With the Rays in last place in mid-June, rumors of the team looking to deal Arozarena began to spread.[39] His hitting improved somewhat, and he hit .211/.318/.394 with 15 home runs in 100 games for the Rays. In five seasons with Tampa Bay, Arozarena hit .255 with 85 home runs and 94 stolen bases.[40]

Arozarena is the Rays' franchise leader with 59 hit by pitches, one ahead of Brandon Guyer, and ranks in the top 10 in many offensive categories, including home runs, stolen bases, and OPS.[41] He also holds many Rays postseason records, including most hits, home runs, and total bases,[42] batting .349 in 28 games.[43]

Seattle Mariners

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On July 25, 2024, Arozarena was traded to the Seattle Mariners for Brody Hopkins, Aidan Smith and Ty Cummings.[44] Arozarena said goodbye to Rays fans in "Randy Land" following the trade.[45] Arozarena hit his 20th home run on September 15, completing his fourth consecutive 20–20 season.[46] Combined with the Rays and Mariners, Arozarena slashed .254/.346/.436 with the 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases as well as 60 RBI in 648 plate appearances in 2024.[40] He tied for the lowest line drive percentage in MLB, at 14.4 percent.[47]

International career

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Arozarena with Cuba at the 2013 18U Baseball World Cup

Before his defection, Arozarena represented his home country of Cuba at the youth level, playing in the 2011 U-16 Baseball World Cup and the 2013 U-18 Baseball World Cup in Taichung, where Cuba won the bronze medal.

Arozarena announced his intention to play for Mexico in 2020, saying "I feel like I represent Mexico. I have a daughter in Mexico, and I’d do it in honor of her and for the part of my career that I spent in Mexico, and for all the friends I’ve made in Mexico.”[48] In October 2022, it was officially announced that Arozarena intended to represent Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

For his performance in the pool stage of the tournament, he was named the most valuable player of Pool C, over Mike Trout.[49] In the semifinal game against Japan, Arozarena hit a double to score the go-ahead run and made several timely catches, including a "home-run robbery" from Kazuma Okamoto. However, Mexico would lose the game on a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth inning.[50] Arozarena led Mexico in most offensive categories, batting .450/.607/.900 with six doubles and nine RBIs in the tournament.[51] Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called Arozarena a "phenomenon" for his performance in the tournament.[52] Arozarena was named to the All-WBC team, one of only two players, along with Trea Turner, to be unanimous selections.[53] He was presented the award at a Rays home game on May 21, 2023, by Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard.[54]

Personal life

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Arozarena was born in Cuba, growing up in the neighborhood of Arroyos de Mantua. As a child, he first played soccer before committing to baseball as a 12-year-old because he could earn money playing it.[55][6] Shortly after his father Jesús died, he fled Cuba in June 2015 on a small, broken boat, traveling eight or nine hours to Isla Mujeres, Mexico, where he established residency before signing his first MLB contract.[48][55][6]

Arozarena is married to Cenelia Pinedo Blanco and has two daughters,[56][6] one of whom was born in Mexico in 2018.[57] On November 23, 2020, Arozarena was arrested in Mexico’s Yucatán state after allegedly trying to kidnap his daughter from her mother and assaulting the woman’s father.[58][59] He was released two days later as the child's mother did not press charges.[60] Arozarena's second daughter was born in 2021.[61]

Fellow Cuban outfielder Adolis García is the godfather of one of Arozarena's daughters. The two outfielders played together in the Cardinals minor league system, and Arozarena described Garcia as "kind of like my brother" in 2023.[62] The two friends both started in the outfield in the 2023 All-Star Game.[63]

Arozarena's younger brother is soccer player Raiko Arozarena, who is currently a goalkeeper for the Cuban national team and the Las Vegas Lights of the USL Championship.[64][65]

In 2020, a film based on Arozarena’s life was reportedly being developed with an estimated release in 2022 or 2023.[66] Arozarena confirmed in 2023 the film had fallen through but said he still wanted to make a movie about his life.[6]

Arozarena became a Mexican citizen in 2022, prior to representing the country in international baseball.[67]

Arozarena loves soccer and is a fan of Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Arozarena breaks PS homer mark". MLB.com. October 24, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  2. ^ "Randy Arozarena of the Rays is the MLB playoffs' breakout star". The Washington Post. October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "2023 All-Star Game Box Score, July 11". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  4. ^ Fleming, Ted (July 26, 2016). "Cardinals sign No. 9 Cuban prospect Randy Arozarena". fansided.com. FanSided. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  5. ^ "All-Star Arozarena risked his life to make MLB dream a reality". July 12, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Andrade Franco, Roberto José (August 24, 2023). "Inside Randy Arozarena's stirring journey to MLB stardom". ESPN. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  7. ^ Terry, Justin (June 22, 2017). "Cardinals name FSL South All-Stars". tcpalm.com. TCPalm. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  8. ^ "Randy Arozarena Cuban, Mexican, Winter & Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Randy Arozarena Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  10. ^ "2017 Mexican Pacific Winter League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  11. ^ "Hit de oro de Randy Arozarena lleva final de LMP al 7mo juego". CiberCuba (in Spanish). January 28, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  12. ^ Curtis, Josey (February 5, 2018). "Cardinals invite 23 non-roster players to Spring Training". vivaelbirdos.com. SB Nation. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  13. ^ Baugh, Peter (July 6, 2018). "Minor league report: Hudson, Arozarena tabbed for All-Star Futures Game". stltoday.com. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  14. ^ Rice, Megan (September 15, 2018). "Memphis Redbirds claim back-to-back PCL titles for the first time". WREG-TV. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  15. ^ Rains, Rob (April 2, 2019). "Where will Nolan Gorman and other Cardinals top prospects be as the minor-league season begins?". ksdk.com. KSDK. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  16. ^ "Cardinals' Randy Arozarena: Suffers fractured hand". cbssports.com. CBS Sports. Rotowire Staff. March 18, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  17. ^ Graves, Matt (June 14, 2019). "St. Louis Cardinals: Randy Arozarena is on the rise again". redbirdrants.com. FanSided. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  18. ^ Hochman, Benjamin (July 11, 2019). "How long can Cardinals afford to keep Bader in lineup?". stltoday.com. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  19. ^ Hummel, Rick (August 12, 2019). "Here comes Arozarena as Cardinals place J. Martinez on IL". stltoday.com. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  20. ^ Brown, David (August 14, 2019). "Cards break up no-hit bid, sweep Royals". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Randy Arozarena Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  22. ^ Anderson, R.J. (January 9, 2020). "Cardinals send Jose Martinez, Randy Arozarena to Rays for pitching prospect Matthew Liberatore". cbssports.com. CBS Sports. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  23. ^ "Arozarena breaks home run record for a rookie". en.liderendeportes.com. October 17, 2020. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  24. ^ "Randy Arozarena's Remarkable Run Continues". fangraphs.com. October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  25. ^ Berry, Adam (October 28, 2020). "Arozarena slugs 10th PS homer". MLB.com. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  26. ^ "Rays sensation Randy Arozarena breaks a Derek Jeter record in World Series Game 3". sports.yahoo.com. October 24, 2020. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  27. ^ Rogers, Jesse (October 26, 2020). "Rays' Randy Arozarena sets record for most hits in single postseason". ESPN. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  28. ^ "Secret to Arozarena's power? Cowboy boots". MLB.com.
  29. ^ "Did Randy Arozarena have the best 2021 of any Ray?".
  30. ^ "Randy Arozarena's history-making homer, straight steal of home provide Rays with more MLB playoff heroics". ESPN.com. October 8, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  31. ^ Rogers, Jesse (November 14, 2021). "Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena named American League Rookie of the Year". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  32. ^ "Major League Leaderboards » 2022 » Batters » Standard Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". www.fangraphs.com.
  33. ^ Berry, Adam (May 6, 2023). "Welcome to 'Randy Land' at the Trop". MLB.com. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  34. ^ Russell, Daniel (June 29, 2023). "Randy Arozarena, Yandy Diaz named All-Star Game starters for 2023". DRaysBay. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  35. ^ "Arozarena to compete in HR Derby for first time". MLB.com. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  36. ^ "Another walk-off! Arozarena reclaims clutch mantle". MLB.com. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  37. ^ "Rays' Randy Arozarena reaches 20-20 mark for a third straight season". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  38. ^ "Randy Arozarena 2024 Batting Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  39. ^ "How Will The Rays Approach The Deadline?". MLB Trade Rumors. June 13, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  40. ^ a b "Randy Arozarena Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  41. ^ "Tampa Bay Rays Top 10 Career Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  42. ^ "Most Hits Tampa Bay Rays Player Postseason". StatMuse. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  43. ^ "Randy Arozarena Postseason Batting Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  44. ^ "Mariners acquire Arozarena in deal with Rays". Seattle Mariners. July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  45. ^ Topkin, Marc (July 27, 2024). "Randy Arozarena makes surprise appearance in Randy Land". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  46. ^ "Arozarena reaches 20/20 and defuses a tense moment". MLB.com. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  47. ^ "Major League Leaderboards - 2024 - Batting". FanGraphs Baseball. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  48. ^ a b James Wagner (October 16, 2020). "How Mexico Shaped Randy Arozarena, the Rays' Cuban Star". The New York Times. The New York Times.
  49. ^ Enrique Caceres (March 17, 2023). "Randy Arozarena se consagró MVP del Grupo C por encima de Mike Trout" (in Spanish). El Fildeo.
  50. ^ "RANDY AROZARENA'S BIG-GAME LEGACY GROWS DESPITE MEXICO'S WBC ELIMINATION". Fox Sports. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  51. ^ "Stats - Mexico". MLB.com. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  52. ^ "AMLO considera "fenómeno" a Arozarena y felicita a Selección Mexicana" (in Spanish). TUDN. March 21, 2023.
  53. ^ Michael Clair. "Ohtani's MVP performance leads '23 All-Classic Team". MLB.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
  54. ^ Berry, Adam (May 21, 2023). "Randy hosts special guest in a moment years in the making". MLB.com.
  55. ^ a b Carrera, Tlatoani (November 23, 2023). "Randy Arozarena y cómo ha hecho historia en el beisbol mexicano". GQ (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved November 19, 2024.
  56. ^ Topkin, Marc (November 16, 2021). "Rays' Randy Arozarena wins AL Rookie of the Year award". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on November 22, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  57. ^ Wolf, Jordan (October 25, 2020). "Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena sets postseason homer record". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  58. ^ "Rays' Arozarena detained in Yucatan state". ESPN.com. November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  59. ^ Romano, John (November 24, 2020). "Rays star Randy Arozarena arrested in Mexico following a family dispute". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  60. ^ "Rays' Arozarena released as no charges sought". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 26, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  61. ^ Berry, Adam (November 16, 2021). "'Fearless' Arozarena wins ROY; Wander 3rd". MLB.com. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  62. ^ Weaver, Levi (July 10, 2023). "Friends and former teammates Randy Arozarena, Adolis García meet again in Home Run Derby". The Athletic. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  63. ^ "2023 All-Star Game Box Score, July 11". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  64. ^ "Las Vegas Lights FC goalkeeper Raiko Arozarena earns Cuban national team call-up". Las Vegas Lights FC. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  65. ^ https://int.soccerway.com/players/raiko-arozarena-gonzalez/556812/
  66. ^ Topkin, Marc (November 7, 2020). "Randy Arozarena's story will become a movie". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  67. ^ Clair, Michael (February 13, 2023). "Urías and Arozarena commit to Team Mexico for World Baseball Classic". Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
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