The jaunt — from deep in left field to the deep reaches of the warning track — was the hard part. Randy Arozarena had to have covered 80 feet, maybe more, in just a few seconds.
Then came the calm: a leaping snag to deny Emmanuel Rivera of extra bases — and Puerto Rico of a game-tying run.
He capped off the beauty of a catch in the WBC's quarterfinals in style: Arozarena posed for a moment, mimicking the Art Deco stylings of Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue. It made for quite the image.
Randy Arozarena is doing it ALL for Team Mexico!
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 18, 2023
This time with his glove! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/HvG72j36i8
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Whether it's been in the outfield, at the plate, or on the base paths, this year's World Baseball Classic has been a showcase for Arozarena. The 28-year-old is the talk of the tournament, pulling out all the tricks to help push Mexico to unseen heights in international beisbol.
Arozarena wasn't born in the country. But it's in his heart. Further, it has become part of his DNA, so much so that he begged Mexican government officials to grant him citizenship to take part in this year's tournament.
Here's the skinny on how Arozarena, born and raised in Cuba, got the nod for El Tri in this year's WBC.
Why is Randy Arozarena playing for Mexico in WBC and not Cuba?
Arozarena's affiliation with the Mexican national team comes down to two main factors: loyalty and opportunity.
El Cohete Cubano was one of the highest-profile Cuban-born prospects when he cracked the country's big leagues, reaching the top-tier of Cuban baseball at the tender age of 19.
His heightened talent level gave him major aspirations. But Cuban prospects face an uphill battle to receive living wages for their performances. The U.S. famously imposed an embargo on the island nation more than 60 years ago, one that still persists today. That embargo has halted development across Cuba's public sector, from water to medicine. As such, it has had a trickle-down effect on baseball wages, too.
For Cubans hoping to make it to the pinnacle of their respective sport, their sights oftentimes must be set abroad. Such was the case with Arozarena, who fled the island in the hopes of making enough money to support his family.
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Just a teenager at the time, Arozarena made his way to Mexico via raft. It was a harrowing journey, one that could have had deadly implications.
"You honestly just have to risk your life for your family," Arozarena told MLB.com in 2020. "When you’re in the ocean, the only thing you’re thinking about and hoping for is that you get there safely. There’s been people that are out in the ocean for days, months, and there are others that don’t make it because they die."
Arozarena made it through the fire, defecting to Mexico in 2015 and plying his trade for various Mexican teams before inking a deal with the Cardinals the following July.
The rest, as they say, is history: Arozarena was dealt to Tampa Bay in 2020, clubbed a record 10 home runs in that year's playoffs, and captured the AL Rookie of the Year award in 2021. Now, he takes his place as one of the heroes of this year's World Baseball Classic.
Arozarena treasures the refuge Mexico offered him as a teen. When WBC organizers loosened qualifying requirements for players to play for their national teams, Arozarena was all ears. He pleaded for Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to help expedite his citizenship application.
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It worked out; Lopez Obrador alerted the country's migration director to Arozarena's case. In April 2022, he was unveiled as a Mexican citizen, thereby qualifying to play for the Mexican national team, too.
Since then, Arozarena has become a superstar in his adopted nation. His swagger and bravado has been much-touted. He sports cowboy boots in warmups, dons sombreros in post-game interviews and excels at the plate. He even has his own signature celebration; tucking his arms in while cocking his head sideways after making big plays. He's oozing with confidence.
Speaking of that celebration, it's become all the rage in his new home. It's been regurgitated by a number of athletes, from youth baseball players to Liga MX goalscorer. All in a day's work for the new Randy Savage, I suppose.
Athletes in Mexico are imitating Randy Arozarena’s WBC celebration pic.twitter.com/n1r10txR7D
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 19, 2023
