Randy Arozarena facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Randy Arozarena
Arozarena with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020
Seattle Mariners – No. 56
Left fielder
Born: (1995-02-28) February 28, 1995 (age 30) Mantua Creeks, Pinar del Río, Cuba
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
August 14, 2019, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics (through July 26, 2025)
Batting average	.253
Home runs	111
Runs batted in	366
Stolen bases	117
Teams
St. Louis Cardinals (2019) Tampa Bay Rays (2020–2024) Seattle Mariners (2024–present)
Career highlights and awards
MLB 2× All-Star (2023, 2025) AL Rookie of the Year (2021) ALCS MVP (2020) International All-World Baseball Classic Team (2023)
Medals Men's baseball Representing CUB 18U Baseball World Cup Bronze 2013 Taichung Team Representing MEX World Baseball Classic Bronze 2023 Miami Team

Randy Lia Arozarena González (born February 28, 1995) is a professional baseball outfielder. He was born in Cuba but is now a Mexican citizen. He plays for the Seattle Mariners in Major League Baseball (MLB). Before joining the Mariners, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays.

Randy has also played for the Mexican national team in international games. He used to play for Cuban youth teams. In 2015, Randy moved from Cuba to Mexico. He then signed with the Cardinals in 2016. He made his MLB debut in 2019.

He was traded to the Rays before the 2020 season. That year, Randy set an MLB record. He hit 10 home runs in a single postseason. He was named the MVP of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) in 2020. The next year, he won the AL Rookie of the Year award. He was chosen for his first All-Star Game in 2023.

Randy's Baseball Journey

Starting in Cuba and Mexico

Randy played baseball in Cuba during the 2013–14 and 2014–15 seasons. He played for a team called Vegueros de Pinar del Río. In his last season there, he had a batting average of .291. He also hit three home runs and stole 15 bases.

In 2015, Randy moved from Cuba to Mexico. He played for a few different teams in Mexico. These included the Toros de Tijuana and the Mayos de Navojoa. He played for the Mayos de Navojoa in the winter of 2016.

Playing for the St. Louis Cardinals

Joining the Minor Leagues

Randy signed with the St. Louis Cardinals on August 1, 2016. He got $1.25 million to join the team. He started playing in the United States in 2017. He played for the Palm Beach Cardinals and then the Springfield Cardinals. Overall, he hit .266 with 11 home runs and 18 stolen bases.

After that season, he went back to play for the Mayos de Navojoa. He led the Mexican Pacific League with 14 home runs. His team made it to the championship series. Randy even had a game-winning hit in one of the games.

In 2018, Randy played for the Memphis Redbirds. He was chosen for the 2018 All-Star Futures Game. He helped Memphis win the Pacific Coast League (PCL) title. He was even named a co-MVP of the PCL playoffs. He batted .274 with 12 home runs and 26 stolen bases that year.

Making it to the Major Leagues

Randy started the 2019 season with a hand injury. He returned to play in May. On August 12, 2019, the Cardinals called him up to the major leagues. He played his first MLB game on August 14. In 19 games with St. Louis, Randy hit .300. He also had one home run and two stolen bases.

Time with the Tampa Bay Rays

Breaking Records in 2020

On January 9, 2020, Randy was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays. He joined the Rays on August 30. In the regular season, he batted .281 with seven home runs.

Randy became a huge star in the 2020 postseason. He had three extra-base hits in the Wild Card Series. He then hit three home runs against the New York Yankees. In Game 7 of the ALCS, he hit a two-run home run. This broke the record for most home runs by a rookie in a postseason. Randy was named the MVP of the ALCS. He was the first rookie position player to win this award.

He continued to hit home runs in the 2020 World Series. He broke the all-time record for most home runs in a single postseason. He also broke the record for most hits by a rookie in the postseason. Randy said his "power boots" (lucky cowboy boots) helped him hit so well.

Awards and Achievements in 2021

In the 2021 season, Randy batted .274. He hit 20 home runs and stole 20 bases. In a playoff game against the Boston Red Sox, he made history. He became the first player to hit a home run and steal home in the same playoff game. Randy won the AL Rookie of the Year Award. He was the first Ray to win it since 2013.

More Great Seasons (2022-2024)

In 2022, Randy stole 32 bases. He also hit 20 home runs. In 2023, the Rays created a "Randy Land" section for fans. Fans voted him to start in the MLB All-Star Game. He also competed in the Home Run Derby. He made it to the final round.

On August 31, 2023, Randy stole third base. He became the first MLB player to have three straight seasons with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. He finished 2023 with 23 home runs and 22 stolen bases.

Randy started 2024 slowly. But his hitting improved. He finished his time with the Rays with 15 home runs in 100 games. In five seasons with Tampa Bay, he hit 85 home runs and stole 94 bases. He holds many Rays postseason records. These include most hits and home runs.

Joining the Seattle Mariners

On July 25, 2024, Randy was traded to the Seattle Mariners. He hit his 20th home run on September 15, 2024. This completed his fourth straight 20-home run, 20-stolen base season. In 2024, playing for both teams, he had 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases.

On June 30, 2025, Randy hit two home runs. One of them was his 100th career home run! He was named an All-Star for the second time in his career.

Playing for His Country

Arozarena with Cuba at the 2013 18U Baseball World Cup

Before moving to Mexico, Randy played for Cuba's youth baseball teams. He played in the 2011 U-16 Baseball World Cup. He also played in the 2013 U-18 Baseball World Cup. Cuba won the bronze medal in that tournament.

In 2020, Randy said he wanted to play for Mexico. He said he felt like he represented Mexico. He has a daughter who was born in Mexico. In October 2022, it was announced that Randy would play for Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Randy was named the most valuable player of his group in the tournament. He hit a double in the semifinal game against Japan. He also made some amazing catches. He even "robbed" a home run! Randy led Mexico in many hitting categories. He batted .450 with six doubles and one home run. He was named to the All-WBC team.

Randy's Life Outside Baseball

Randy was born in Cuba. He grew up in a place called Arroyos de Mantua. He first played soccer as a child. But at age 12, he chose baseball. He knew he could earn money playing it. After his father passed away, he moved to Mexico in 2015.

Randy is married to Cenelia Pinedo Blanco. They have two daughters. One of his daughters was born in Mexico in 2018. His second daughter was born in 2021.

Another baseball player, Adolis García, is the godfather of one of Randy's daughters. Randy and Adolis were teammates and roommates in the minor leagues. Randy calls Adolis "kind of like my brother." Both friends started in the outfield in the 2023 All-Star Game.

Randy's younger brother, Raiko Arozarena, is a soccer player. He is a goalkeeper for the Cuban national team. Randy also has a mother named Sandra and another younger brother named Ronny.

In 2022, Randy became a Mexican citizen. He loves football (soccer) and is a fan of Real Madrid. He also likes the famous player Cristiano Ronaldo.

See also

In Spanish: Randy Arozarena para niños

• List of baseball players who defected from Cuba
• List of Major League Baseball players from Cuba
• Tampa Bay Rays award winners and league leaders