Back in camp, Arozarena reflects on Classic heroics

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Randy Arozarena created plenty of memorable moments during the World Baseball Classic. He stole the spotlight while he was hitting, fielding, hanging out in the dugout or even walking around the field during batting practice.

But one play from his six-game highlight reel topped Arozarena’s personal list: his game-saving catch against Puerto Rico that helped send Mexico to the semifinal, where Arozarena’s squad ultimately lost to eventual tournament champion Japan.

Arozarena returned to Rays camp on Friday after an exhilarating run with Mexico in the Classic. He went 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts while playing five innings in left field in the Rays’ 11-2 loss in a Grapefruit League contest against the Mets at Tropicana Field. But as anyone who watched his Classic performance may have noticed, he’s ready for the real thing.

“No moment is too big, I like to say,” Arozarena said through interpreter Elvis Martinez. “I just go out there and play the game I know how to play. I really enjoyed the tournament and had a lot of fun. I wish we could have won it. We didn't, but we represented Mexico really well.”

Arozarena did his part. He went 9-for-20 with six doubles, a home run and nine RBIs in six games. Along with his leaping catch against Puerto Rico, Arozarena robbed a homer in left field against Japan then stood stone still, staring intensely as the crowd at loanDepot park went wild.

Arozarena said, perhaps ironically with a big smile, that his unusually stoic reaction after that high-profile act of thievery was “so people can see that I have a mean face.”

Beyond that, Arozarena brought an infectious energy to the tournament, capturing fans’ attention at the ballpark and in his adopted home country by doing what he described as “things that Randy do.”

“The joy that he brings, the style that he plays -- we're fortunate we get to see it firsthand for the last couple seasons,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Now, the world got to see it.”

Arozarena signed autographs through the left-field fence in Miami. He wore a luchador mask during one game and a sombrero before another. His famous cowboy boots even made an appearance. (They’ll return for the postseason, Arozarena said.) And his arms-crossed celebration swept through his team, the tournament and Mexico.

“It feels good to see everybody doing that. It's a little funny, but everybody adopted it,” Arozarena said through Martinez. “Soccer is really big in Mexico; even professional soccer players are doing it now every time they score, and things like that.”

That not only boosted Arozarena’s profile -- his Instagram following grew by 299% and his Twitter following by 105% during the tournament, according to MLB -- but it shined a spotlight on baseball in Mexico, where the Cuban-born Arozarena was granted citizenship last year.

“I had a lot of fun. Proud of representing Mexico,” he said. “I obviously was born in Cuba, and your dream is to represent your home country, where you were born. My case is special, and Mexico gave me the opportunity to become a citizen there and represent them, so I took advantage of that.”

Around the horn

• Reliever Jason Adam also rejoined the Rays after pitching in the World Baseball Classic. Although Team USA lost to Japan in the championship, Adam raved about the “unbelievable experience” and camaraderie he quickly built with his teammates.

“I feel like I'm game-ready,” Adam said. “I'll still be excited, because now every game matters for getting to the postseason. And after falling one game short [in the Classic], I want nothing more than to win our last game of the season in the World Series.”

• Luis Patiño, competing with Yonny Chirinos and Josh Fleming for the last spot in the Rays’ rotation, gave up seven runs on five hits and three walks against the Mets. He struggled to execute with his slider for the second straight outing, fell behind in counts and got hit hard when he threw fastballs over the plate.

Cash said the Rays have not yet made a decision on the fifth-starter race, but he noted the spot could be “fluid” early in the season, which means Patiño could contribute even if he doesn’t break camp with the team.

• Opening Day starter Shane McClanahan said he threw six innings and felt good in a back-field game against Tigers Minor Leaguers on Friday in Lakeland, his last outing before facing Detroit on Thursday at Tropicana Field. Drew Rasmussen also pitched six innings in a Minor League game in Lakeland.