In October, Cuban Randy Arozarena showed what he is capable of on the record. But on Monday he also showed his skills with the glove.
“It was a tough hit from the moment he came out, but I knew if I ran fast I could get to him,” Arozarena said after the race.
The piece alone is impressive enough, without needing to add any context. But what Arozarena did becomes more important when you take into account that the Cuban was willing to defend the leftfield and even played the first two innings for the Green Monster. The Rays’ outfield traded when central patrol Kevin Kiermaier left the game with a quadriceps injury.
In the end, the catch left some open-mouthed.
“I thought it would be beyond him,” said Tampa Bay pitcher Michael Wacha. “I thought he was still on the left, but when I looked, he was in the right field and made a great game for us.”
Arozarena hasn’t been on post-season level yet – he’s 11-4 with one walk in three games – but Monday served as a reminder not to take your eyes off him.
“He came out of nowhere and appeared in the hole,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “It turned out that he had a long range in the gardens.”