ST. PETERSBURG — Randy Arozarena is made for giant moments. From his star flip within the 2020 postseason to his World Baseball Classic heroics for Team Mexico this spring, Arozarena has at all times accomplished his greatest work when the lights shine brightest.
Now, the Rays’ All-Star outfielder is ready to shine on one other one in all baseball’s greatest phases. Arozarena introduced Saturday on social media that he’ll take part in his first T-Mobile Home Run Derby on July 10 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
Arozarena enters a Derby area that already contains Mariners star Julio Rodríguez, Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and seven-time All-Star Mookie Betts. Lately, Arozarena has not been hiding his need to hitch them.
“I feel very happy for the opportunity to be able to participate in the Home Run Derby. It’s always been a goal of mine,” Arozarena informed reporters in Seattle by interpreter Manny Navarro. “Everyone knows I like to hit home runs, so that’s another reason why I wanted to be able to participate.”
And few gamers in baseball can placed on a present just like the fan-favorite Arozarena. He first confirmed a aptitude for the dramatic and luxury within the highlight with his historic efficiency throughout Tampa Bay’s run to the 2020 World Series. Donning cowboy boots he rapidly made well-known, Arozarena launched 10 residence runs within the playoffs, and broke MLB information for essentially the most hits, homers and whole bases in a single postseason.
He lived as much as the hype throughout his first full season with the Rays in 2021, launching 20 homers and stealing 20 bases on his technique to profitable the American League Rookie of the Year Award. He capped that marketing campaign with one other scene-stealing efficiency within the playoffs, turning into the primary participant to homer and steal residence in the identical postseason sport.
In 2022, Arozarena put collectively a uncommon 20-homer, 32-steal, 41-double season for the Rays, and he’s been even higher this yr. The first trace of Arozarena’s particular season got here in Spring Training, when Arozarena led Mexico deep into the WBC, put his persona on full show and made followers around the globe.
Whether he’s interacting with followers or breaking out his arms-crossed celebratory pose, Arozarena has created the same ambiance at Tropicana Field this season, particularly when the left-field “Randy Land” cheering part fills up on Friday nights. Meanwhile, he’s taken his sport to a different stage to earn his first profession All-Star task; he and Rays teammate Yandy Díaz have been elected by followers to start out within the Midsummer Classic.
“We’ve known internally here how special he was, how talented he was and what a star he had the potential to be,” Rays supervisor Kevin Cash mentioned earlier this week. “Now, it seems like the rest of the baseball world is seeing that firsthand.”
Of course, Arozarena isn’t collaborating within the Home Run Derby strictly based mostly on his star energy. He’s hit 15 homers for the Rays this season, placing him on tempo for a career-high whole. He ranks among the many league leaguers in common exit velocity, and his most exit velocity has been within the Majors’ 91st percentile or higher three of the final 4 years.
Take it from the man who throws batting follow to Arozarena: He’s certified for the competitors.
“He’s a guy that can hit the ball a long way, and he can do it quite frequently when he gets in rhythm,” Cash mentioned.
Arozarena shall be solely the third Tampa Bay participant to ever participate within the Home Run Derby, becoming a member of Evan Longoria in 2008 and Carlos Peña in ’09. Neither Longoria nor Peña superior previous the primary spherical, nevertheless.
This received’t technically be Arozarena’s first expertise in a Home Run Derby. During his first Minor League season within the Cardinals’ system, he received a rain-shortened Derby earlier than the 2017 Florida State League All-Star Game.
That occasion befell at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. When Arozarena steps into the batter’s field in Seattle, the lights shall be a bit of brighter — simply the way in which he likes it.
“Everyone’s got the mentality that they want to win. That’s going to be the goal,” Arozarena mentioned by Navarro. “Just going to try to keep a positive mind, just try to stay out there and have fun.”
Content Source: www.mlb.com