Tampa Bay Rays Ace Shares How He's Helping Randy Arozarena at MLB Home Run Derby

Even though Shane McClanahan won't be competing Monday night in Seattle, the ace said he is still feeling the nerves for his teammate.

Randy Arozarena is the Tampa Bay Ray taking the field at T-Mobile Park for the 2023 MLB Home Run Derby on Monday night, but it's one of his teammates who appears to be the most on edge.

Left-handed pitcher Shane McClanahan spoke with MLB Network Radio ahead of the event, and he was asked what his job would be in terms of supporting Arozarena during the skills challenge.

"I'm on 'Being Nervous for Randy' duty," McClanahan said. "I always say it to everybody, it's like when I'm not doing something – like pitching or competing – I always get so nervous for them because I can't do anything."

With @RandyArozarena being in the Home Run Derby, no one is more anxious than his All-Star teammate @Sugar_ShaneM 🤣@RaysBaseball | #Rays pic.twitter.com/GcwoiG3at0

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) July 10, 2023

McClanahan, who said Rays shortstop and American League WAR leader Wander Franco would be handling Arozarena's towel and Gatorade, admitted he didn't have much advice for the 28-year-old Cuban star.

"I think Randy knows his task at hand, and he's prepared," McClanahan said.

Arozarena boasts plus-800 odds of winning Monday's derby, per SI Sportsbook. The 2020 ALCS MVP and 2021 AL Rookie of the Year is hitting .279 with 16 home runs, 58 RBI, a .855 OPS and a 2.7 WAR, putting him on pace for career-highs in each category.

McClanahan was selected as an All-Star himself back on July 2, but that was one day after he was placed on the 15-day injured list with back tightness. The third-year starter out of South Florida leads the AL with 11 wins, while his 2.53 ERA ranks second among qualified starters.

The Home Run Derby is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET. The event will be broadcast on ESPN.

Arozarena is the No. 5 seed in the bracket, setting him up for a first-round matchup with Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia.

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