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Tampa Bay Rays: Randy Arozarena set to shine in 2023

By Beau Adams|
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 08: Randy Arozarena #56 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after striking out in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians in game two of the Wild Card Series at Progressive Field on October 08, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 08: Randy Arozarena #56 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after striking out in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians in game two of the Wild Card Series at Progressive Field on October 08, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

The Tampa Bay Rays have a bonafide superstar in Randy Arozarena after his World Baseball Classic display. Arozarena has proclaimed himself as one of MLB’s top attractions, and his legend is just getting started.

Randy Arozarena: From Cuban refugee to Mexico’s hero to American elite

Marca.com recounts on how Arozarena defected Cuba on a raft destined for Isla Mujeres, Mexico, in 2015 at age 20. He then established himself in the Mexican Pacific Baseball league, where he garnered the attention of MLB scouts.

He earned a full-time slot in the Rays lineup in 2021 and established himself as a great big-league player. He joined the 20/20 club during his first two seasons in the show.

“He’s extremely talented. He’s a great character,” Benji Gil, Mexico Aztecs WBC Manager, said of the Arozarena in this article. “I think everybody would agree that he is awesome for baseball. He’s awesome for baseball; he’s awesome for Cuba, he’s awesome for Mexico, he’s awesome for wherever baseball’s played.”

Arozarena then filed in Mexico for citizenship in 2022 and called upon President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to secure his citizenship so he could play in the WBC this year. “For me, my second country, it was where I arrived when I left Cuba, I have a Mexican girl, grateful to Mexico, and it is as if it were my home,” Arozarena stated. “Excitement, happiness, eager to show the world how proud I am to be Mexican; since I was a kid, I wanted to play a World Classic, and I get the opportunity with Mexico.”

Bet the over on Tampa Bay Rays’ Randy Arozarena

Arozarena looks to put together an all-out All-Star 2023 season. He is determined to make less mistakes this year. In this article, Arozarena said, “I just want to be a little bit more present during the game time, be a little bit more smarter during the game situations …” With this philosophy, it would certainly improve his stolen base success rate. With smarter play and the new MLB rules, the sky is the limit for Arozarena.

Rotochamp has his Fantasy projections at .266 batting average, 21 homers/81 runs scored/82 RBI/29 stolen bases. Smart money says to take the over on all of those this year.

This should be the cover of next year’s MLB’s THE SHOW

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