Back in camp, Arozarena reflects on Classic heroics
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Randy Arozarena created loads of memorable moments throughout the World Baseball Classic. He stole the highlight whereas he was hitting, fielding, hanging out within the dugout and even strolling across the subject throughout batting observe.
But one play from his six-game spotlight reel topped Arozarena’s private record: his game-saving catch towards Puerto Rico that helped ship Mexico to the semifinal, the place Arozarena’s squad in the end misplaced to eventual match champion Japan.
Arozarena returned to Rays camp on Friday after an exhilarating run with Mexico within the Classic. He went 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts whereas enjoying 5 innings in left subject within the Rays’ 11-2 loss in a Grapefruit League contest towards the Mets at Tropicana Field. But as anybody who watched his Classic efficiency could have observed, he’s prepared for the actual factor.
“No moment is too big, I like to say,” Arozarena mentioned by interpreter Elvis Martinez. “I just go out there and play the game I know how to play. I really enjoyed the tournament and had a lot of fun. I wish we could have won it. We didn’t, but we represented Mexico really well.”
Arozarena did his half. He went 9-for-20 with six doubles, a house run and 9 RBIs in six video games. Along along with his leaping catch towards Puerto Rico, Arozarena robbed a homer in left subject towards Japan then stood stone nonetheless, staring intensely as the group at loanDepot park went wild.
Arozarena mentioned, maybe mockingly with an enormous smile, that his unusually stoic response after that high-profile act of thievery was “so people can see that I have a mean face.”
Beyond that, Arozarena introduced an infectious vitality to the match, capturing followers’ consideration on the ballpark and in his adopted residence nation by doing what he described as “things that Randy do.”
“The joy that he brings, the style that he plays — we’re fortunate we get to see it firsthand for the last couple seasons,” Rays supervisor Kevin Cash mentioned. “Now, the world got to see it.”
Arozarena signed autographs by the left-field fence in Miami. He wore a luchador masks throughout one sport and a sombrero earlier than one other. His well-known cowboy boots even made an look. (They’ll return for the postseason, Arozarena mentioned.) And his arms-crossed celebration swept by his crew, the match and Mexico.
“It feels good to see everybody doing that. It’s a little funny, but everybody adopted it,” Arozarena mentioned by Martinez. “Soccer is really big in Mexico; even professional soccer players are doing it now every time they score, and things like that.”
That not solely boosted Arozarena’s profile — his Instagram following grew by 299% and his Twitter following by 105% throughout the match, based on MLB — but it surely shined a highlight on baseball in Mexico, the place the Cuban-born Arozarena was granted citizenship final 12 months.
“I had a lot of fun. Proud of representing Mexico,” he mentioned. “I obviously was born in Cuba, and your dream is to represent your home country, where you were born. My case is special, and Mexico gave me the opportunity to become a citizen there and represent them, so I took advantage of that.”
• Reliever Jason Adam additionally rejoined the Rays after pitching within the World Baseball Classic. Although Team USA misplaced to Japan within the championship, Adam raved concerning the “unbelievable experience” and camaraderie he shortly constructed along with his teammates.
“I feel like I’m game-ready,” Adam mentioned. “I’ll still be excited, because now every game matters for getting to the postseason. And after falling one game short [in the Classic], I want nothing more than to win our last game of the season in the World Series.”
• Luis Patiño, competing with Yonny Chirinos and Josh Fleming for the final spot within the Rays’ rotation, gave up seven runs on 5 hits and three walks towards the Mets. He struggled to execute along with his slider for the second straight outing, fell behind in counts and bought hit onerous when he threw fastballs over the plate.
Cash mentioned the Rays haven’t but decided on the fifth-starter race, however he famous the spot could possibly be “fluid” early within the season, which suggests Patiño might contribute even when he doesn’t break camp with the crew.
• Opening Day starter Shane McClanahan mentioned he threw six innings and felt good in a back-field sport towards Tigers Minor Leaguers on Friday in Lakeland, his final outing earlier than dealing with Detroit on Thursday at Tropicana Field. Drew Rasmussen additionally pitched six innings in a Minor League sport in Lakeland.
