Tampa Bay Rays: Randy Arozarena looking to join historic playoff club

With seven home runs, Tampa Bay Rays slugger Randy Arozarena is poised to join the historic eight-HR postseason club. Only Barry Bonds, Carlos Beltran, and Nelson Cruz have accomplished this feat.

Through 14 games in the MLB Playoffs, Randy Arozarena has been virtually unstoppable. The 25-year-old outfielder is batting .382, slugging .855, with seven home runs and 10 RBIs for the Tampa Bay Rays.

The result? He’s carried his Tampa Bay roster and offense all the way to the World Series. This marks the franchise’s second World Series appearance and the first since 2008.

After defeating the Houston Astros in seven games in the ALCS, Arozarena was named the ALCS MVP. He’s just the fourth rookie, and first rookie position player, to be named the MVP of an LCS. The rookie hit .321 with four home runs throughout the ALCS.

In addition to his brilliance during the 2020 postseason, Arozarena sits on the cusp of making MLB history. With seven postseason home runs, the outfielder sits one shy of another MLB record.

Only three names in MLB history have ever clobbered eight postseason home runs. The list is full of Hall of Fame talent. Barry Bonds accomplished this feat in 2002 with the San Francisco Giants. Carlos Beltran knocked eight home runs in 2004 with the Astros and Nelson Cruz did so in 2011 with the Texas Rangers.

Surprisingly, none of these postseason performances have resulted in a World Series title. Arozarena will have at least four games, and potentially seven, to hit his eighth home run this postseason. Although, superstitious Tampa Bay Rays fans may hope his home run output sits at seven in exchange for a championship.

Here’s a look back at the only three players in MLB history to clobber eight home runs in a single postseason.