Arozarena to compete in HR Derby for first time

ST. PETERSBURG -- Randy Arozarena is made for big moments. From his star turn in the 2020 postseason to his World Baseball Classic heroics for Team Mexico this spring, Arozarena has always done his best work when the lights shine brightest.

Now, the Rays’ All-Star outfielder is set to shine on another one of baseball’s biggest stages. Arozarena announced Saturday on social media that he will participate in his first T-Mobile Home Run Derby on July 10 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

Arozarena enters a Derby field that already includes Mariners star Julio Rodríguez, Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and seven-time All-Star Mookie Betts. Lately, Arozarena has not been hiding his desire to join 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 told reporters in Seattle through 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 players in baseball can put on a show like the fan-favorite Arozarena. He first showed a flair for the dramatic and comfort in the spotlight with his historic performance during Tampa Bay’s run to the 2020 World Series. Donning cowboy boots he quickly made famous, Arozarena launched 10 home runs in the playoffs, and broke MLB records for the most hits, homers and total bases in a single postseason.

He lived up to the hype during his first full season with the Rays in 2021, launching 20 homers and stealing 20 bases on his way to winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award. He capped that campaign with another scene-stealing performance in the playoffs, becoming the first player to homer and steal home in the same postseason game.

In 2022, Arozarena put together a rare 20-homer, 32-steal, 41-double season for the Rays, and he’s been even better this year. The first hint of Arozarena’s special season came in Spring Training, when Arozarena led Mexico deep into the WBC, put his personality on full display and made fans around the world.

Whether he’s interacting with fans or breaking out his arms-crossed celebratory pose, Arozarena has created a similar atmosphere at Tropicana Field this season, especially when the left-field “Randy Land” cheering section fills up on Friday nights. Meanwhile, he’s taken his game to another level to earn his first career All-Star assignment; he and Rays teammate Yandy Díaz were elected by fans to start in 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 manager Kevin Cash said earlier this week. “Now, it seems like the rest of the baseball world is seeing that firsthand.”

Of course, Arozarena isn’t taking part in the Home Run Derby strictly based on his star power. He’s hit 15 homers for the Rays this season, putting him on pace for a career-high total. He ranks among the league leaguers in average exit velocity, and his maximum exit velocity has been in the Majors’ 91st percentile or better three of the last four years.

Take it from the guy who throws batting practice to Arozarena: He’s qualified for the competition.

“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 said.

Arozarena will be only the third Tampa Bay player to ever take part in the Home Run Derby, joining Evan Longoria in 2008 and Carlos Pe?a in ’09. Neither Longoria nor Pe?a advanced past the first round, however.

This won’t technically be Arozarena’s first experience in a Home Run Derby. During his first Minor League season in the Cardinals’ system, he won a rain-shortened Derby before the 2017 Florida State League All-Star Game.

That event took place at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. When Arozarena steps into the batter’s box in Seattle, the lights will be a little brighter -- just the way he likes it.

“Everyone’s got the mentality that they want to win. That’s going to be the goal,” Arozarena said through Navarro. “Just going to try to keep a positive mind, just try to stay out there and have fun.”