Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena Ends Cold Streak, Notches 1st Hit of Spring Training
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Prior to Sunday afternoon, Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena was hitless in Spring Training.
Arozarena had appeared in six Grapefruit League contests, going 0-for-17 with three strikeouts. He had drawn two walks and driven in one run, but his bat was largely useless for Tampa Bay across their first few weeks of exhibition action.
That finally changed Sunday, with the Rays facing the Boston Red Sox in the second and final game of the Dominican Republic series in Santo Domingo.
Arozarena stepped up to the plate with one out in the first inning and singled on a line drive to center.
The 29-year-old from Cuba turned to his dugout and began celebrating on his way down the first base line, holding up one finger before crossing his arms once he got aboard safely.
In the third inning, Arozarena got a second plate appearance, driving in a run on a sacrifice fly.
Tampa Bay currently trails Boston 7-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Arozarena is now batting .056 with a .199 OPS in Spring Training. The preseason struggles aren't exactly typical of Arozarena, either, considering his OPS has exceeded .950 in four of the last five Grapefruit or Cactus League seasons.
In his MLB career, Arozarena is a .265 hitter with an .802 OPS. Since emerging as a franchise centerpiece for the Rays on their way to the 2020 World Series, Arozarena is averaging 21 home runs, 80 RBI and 25 stolen bases a year.
The 2021 AL Rookie of the Year is a one-time All-Star with three years left on his contract in Tampa Bay.
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