After a 2020 season that saw him start at the alternate training site in Port Charlotte, and finish with an American League Championship Series MVP and a trip to the World Series, it’s been a busy time for outfielder Randy Arozarena.
“I got to catch up with my family,” Arozarena said via translator Manny Navarro. “Because of all the time after the World Series, I got a chance to catch up with my family. I also had my wedding in November, and that was one of my highlights of my offseason.”
But now it’s back to the business of getting the Tampa Bay Rays back into the postseason for a third consecutive year, something that has never happened in franchise history. And after being on the biggest stage, he wants another crack at it.
“I know I put up some great [postseason] numbers and great results,” Arozarena said. “That actually has
given me motivation to go out and do it again and try to repeat it.”
But manager Kevin Cash hopes the offense doesn’t have to rely solely on a player that will still be eligible for the Rookie of the Year award in 2021.
“We didn’t have Randy [all of last year] and we have to be optimistic about what he’s capable of doing,” Cash said. “I look more toward Yandy [Diaz], Ji-Man [Choi] and [Austin] Meadows. Those are three key guys that for numerous reasons got banged up at the wrong time. You get those guys healthy and timed up and in a normal routine and they really can lengthen out our lineup because they can be special on a given night.”
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
