García wants to beat his 'brother' Arozarena in Derby

This story was excerpted from Kennedi Landry’s Rangers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

When Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2021, he let everybody know he was sharing the honor with his friend Adolis García, the Rangers’ outfielder who finished fourth.

The two outfielders have a long history together. From playing against each other while growing up in Cuba, to being roommates during their first Spring Training as members of the Cardinals' organization in 2017, to both of their breakout seasons in recent years as members of different ballclubs, they share a special bond.

“Adolis is kind of like my brother, so much that I named him the godfather of my daughter,” Arozarena said via team interpreter Manny Navarro. “I think God placed us intentionally on the same team because we were actually roommates together after we signed. The story that he's come up and the way that I've come up, we've actually given ourselves a lot of advice. We give each other mutual advice, and I'm happy that when he accomplishes anything, he's just as happy when I accomplish stuff.

“The funny part is, even though this game is a competition against one another, we were actually just giving each other advice as well. But to see him, he's been left as a free agent in the past. He even didn't have a job during the pandemic. To see him grow in that aspect has been really nice.”

The two talk every day, García said. Topics range from baseball to family and everything in between.

With a connection so strong, it’s only right the two will not only start alongside each other at this year’s All-Star Game, but they’ll compete against one another in the first round of the Home Run Derby. It is García’s second All-Star appearance and Arozarena’s first. It’s the first time both are participating in the Derby.

“I feel very happy to be able to compete with him,” Arozarena said. “We're obviously really good friends. We talk to each other a lot. Actually, the word hadn't come out that he was participating, out yet in public, but he had told me that he was going to compete. So I told him back, 'Hopefully we're not going against each other.'”

Now that both know they’re going to compete against each other, the tone didn’t change too much. The friendly competition remained, though Arozarena acknowledged the obvious power in García’s 205-pound frame.

The two agreed that no matter what happens, they’ll treat it like that '21 Rookie of the Year Award.

“We're going to try to share the victory, because we said if I lose to him that he's gonna win the Derby, and if I beat him, then I'm gonna win the Derby,” Arozarena said. “So that's how we're going to share it.”

Even so, García joked he would definitely beat Arozarena in the Derby. Both are obviously elite talents, but García has 23 home runs to his friend's 16 so far this season.

“We're gonna forget about the rivalry," García said. "We're going out there just again as friends. We came up together -- his story, my story, playing together in another organization, I think that's what it's really gonna be about. And I think we're both going to be winners after this. ... But I want to beat him. He's a strong guy, we can tell. But I'm there to compete. I think I can beat him, too, so we'll find out on Monday.”

Competition aside, the two outfielders just thank God for the opportunity to play and compete alongside each other after their long journeys to stardom.

The paths have been eerily similar, too.

The Rays acquired Arozarena from the Cardinals in January 2020. The club watched him turn into a postseason star that season and win AL Rookie of the Year the following year.

St. Louis also designated García for assignment in December 2019, and Texas acquired him for cash considerations shortly thereafter. He played just three games for the club during the COVID-shortened ‘20 season and was DFA’d again that winter. He stayed in the Rangers’ Minor League system before becoming a star in his own right in Texas with his first All-Star appearance in ‘21.

Through all of that, it led both of them back to the same place -- the outfield together for the AL at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday evening.

“It’s just really good to be on the same field as my old friend. It’s something everybody kinda looks forward to back in our hometown,” García said.

MLB.com’s Rays beat reporter Adam Berry contributed to this newsletter.