Randy Lia Arozarena Gonzáles

- Age: 28
- Weight: 185 lbs, Height: 5'11"
- Major League Debut: 14th August, 2019
- Team: Tampa Bay Rays

The Barefoot Dream to the Big Leagues

Born on February 28, 1995, in the small town of Mantua, Cuba, a young boy named Randy Arozarena was born. His childhood was filled with the joy of playing soccer with his brothers, Raiko and Ronny, and dancing in the streets. But there was one thing that Randy loved more than anything else – baseball.

Arozarena told reporters that he used to play barefoot and hands because he had no equipment. But with the support of trainers and good friends, Randy overcame his circumstances. One of the person was Jose, a trainer who recognized Randy’s potential and dedicated himself to nurturing his talent. Countless hours were spent practicing with his childhood friend, Alejandro Hernadez, honing his skills and fueling his dream.

Cuba Career 2013-2015

He was selected to play for the Vegueros de Pinar del Río of the Cuban National Series. In his final season, he had an impressive performance, slashing .291/.412/.419 with three home runs, 24 runs batted in (RBIs), and 15 stolen bases over 74 games. Arozarenea also played in the 15U and 18U Baseball for Cuba. In his 16 at-bats, he hit .313/.438/.476 as an infielder.

Defecting to Mexico 2015

In 2015, Arozarena made a life-changing decision to defect from Cuba to Mexico, in pursuit of him dream to become a Big-Leaguer. At the time, international signing of prospects from Cuba required many procedures due to US immigration policy. Going to Mexico would be the quickest way to enter MLB.

Upon his arrival in Mexico, Arozarena quickly established himself in the Mexican Pacific Baseball league.

St. Louis Cardinals 2016-2020

In 2016, he signed a $1.25 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, marking the beginning of his professional baseball career. There he met his now best friend, Adolis Garcia.

Arozarena quickly rose through the ranks of the Cardinals’ minor league system, showcasing his skills as an outfielder and hitter. The more he went up the system, the better he was, from hitting an average of .266/.346/.427 in High-A in 2017 to hitting .344/.431/.571 with an OPS over 1.000 in Triple A in 2019. 

Eventually, he made his Major League debut in 2019 with the Cardinals on August 14.

TAMPA BAY RAYS

2020 - now

2020 Postseason

However, a trade to the Tampa Bay Rays before the 2020 season saw Randy making history. Despite playing only 23 games in the regular season, his contribution to the Ray’s offensive side in the postseason was monumental. 

In the 2020 postseason, he hit .377/.442 /.831 with an OPS 1.273. He even set the MLB record for home runs in a single postseason with 10.

His stellar performance earned him series MVP honors in the 2020 American League Championship Series. He also won the Babe Ruth award, becoming only the second person in history to win the award as a member of the losing team in the World Series. His accolades didn’t stop there, as he won the AL Rookie of the Year award the following year.

2023 World Baseball Classic

In 2022, Randy took another significant step. He filed for Mexican citizenship, reaching out to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to secure his citizenship so he could represent Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. 

His request was granted, and in 2023, Randy proudly represented Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.

Randy’s journey didn’t stop there. He made it to the All-Star team and was a crucial part of why the Rays were in the 2023 postseason. As trade rumors simmer down, we eagerly anticipate his performance in the 2024 season, especially in the AL East Division. 

Dated 10th February 2024.