Randy achieved folk hero status last October, when he was named ALCS MVP as a rookie and set numerous major league records for a single postseason…one of his secret weapons may be a conspicuous piece of footwear—cowboy boots, from Brent Honeywell Jr.’s wardrobe—which made frequent appearances during his historic postseason run…the “power boots” began their journey into legend while playing in Mexico… Randy would frequently borrow a teammate’s pair of boots when his bat needed extra pop, claiming he homered each day he put them on…the result was 14 HR in the Mexican Winter League that season...Randy’s feet were again the focus as he faced off against teammate Brett Phillips in a pair of dance battles after the Rays clinched the division and later the ALDS…some disagreement exists on who emerged victorious overall, but the general consensus says the series was split 1-1…Randy himself claimed the win in round two, declaring on Instagram, “Today, I took home the crown. I won my rematch."...Randy played two years of professional baseball in Cuba, where he earned the nickname El Cohete Cubano, or “The Cuban Rocket,” for his lightning speed…he earned $4 a month during his first season (later $38) and at age 19 led Pinar del Río in stolen bases…he was left off the roster for the 2015 Caribbean Series out of concern that he would defect…he defected to Mexico later that same year, prompted in part by the passing of his father in 2014...Soccer was his first love…his younger brother, Raiko, is a professional goalkeeper who signed with the USL’s Tampa Bay Rowdies for the 2021 season after playing three seasons for Mexican clubs, most recently for the Cafetaleros de Chiapas (The Coffee Growers)…the two originally began playing the opposite sport and switched paths professionally…Randy’s baseball career didn’t begin until his soccer coach dropped him off at a baseball practice to help a local team short on players...When asked which players he admired growing up, Randy told the media “My favorite player is Randy Arozarena,” after mentioning Yuli Gurriel… when asked for his take on Randy’s remarks, Manager Kevin Cash said, “I agree with him"...Randy battled a prolonged COVID-19 diagnosis in the early part of the 2020 season which prevented him from participating in baseball activities with the team…to stay fit, he crafted a home fitness regimen of 300 push-ups a day and three square meals of chicken and rice…the result was 15 pounds of added muscle.
2020
Appeared in 23 games and made 17 starts (12-LF, 4-DH, 1-RF) after his Aug. 30 recall, when 1B/DH José Martínez was traded to the Cubs…from the date of his recall through season’s end, ranked 3rd among AL rookies with 7 HR and 15 runs and tied for 3rd with 4 SB...Was on the alternate training site COVID-19 Related IL/Rehab from July 22–Aug 29...Hit all 7 HR in September, which led the team and tied for 7th in the AL…fell 4 PA shy of qualifying in September, but his .678 SLG would have ranked 3rd in the AL and his 1.055 OPS would have ranked 4th…also led the team in September with 14 runs and 11 RBI (tied with Nate Lowe)...Hit .400 (8-for-20) with 4 HR vs. LHP...Hit 4 HR in his first 16 AB with the Rays and was the first player in club history with 4 HR in his first 16 AB of a season, passing Steven Souza Jr. (3) in 2016, Sean Rodríguez (3) in 2014, Evan Longoria (3) in 2009 and Jorge Cantú (3) in 2005...He also became the first player in franchise history to hit 4 HR in his first 16 career at-bats with the Rays, passing in-season acquisitions Lucas Duda (3) in 2017 and Chris Gomez (3) in 2001...Recorded a pair of multi-HR games, both in a span of 15 games, on Sept. 6 vs. MIA and Sept. 23 at NYM…became the fastest in club history with a pair of multi-HR games, coming in his 25th and 39th career games…broke the mark previously held by Curt Casali (49th and 50th career games)...On Aug. 30 at MIA, was recalled from the alternate training site and made his Rays debut as a defensive replacement in left field...On Aug. 31 at NYY, made his first start with the Rays and started out of the leadoff spot for the first time in his career…recorded his first hit as a Ray, a sixth-inning single off Nick Nelson, and stole second base with two outs in the inning...On Sept. 2 at NYY, hit his first homer as a Ray, against Jordan Montgomery in the 1st inning...On Sept. 6 vs. MIA, hit solo homers in the first and sixth innings for his first career multi-HR game… became the fourth Cuban-born player with a multi-HR game for the Rays, joining Yandy Díaz, Yunel Escobar and José Canseco (twice)...On Sept. 23 at NYM, recorded his second multi-HR game, with a go-ahead, two-run homer off Michael Wacha in the sixth inning and a solo shot off Steven Matz in the ninth...In the season finale on Sept. 27 vs. PHI, was originally written into the starting lineup at second base, which would have been his debut in the infield…a late lineup change (sore foot for Manuel Margot) forced him back to the outfield...Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 17 overall prospect in the minors following the season… was the No. 2 prospect in the Rays system...POSTSEASON...Enjoyed a historic postseason, batting .377/.442/.831 (29-for-77) with 10 HR and 14 RBI in 20 games (all starts) and setting major league records for a single postseason in home runs, hits, extra-base hits (14, tied) and total bases (64)…the previous record was 8 HR by TEX Nelson Cruz in 2011, HOU Carlos Beltrán in 2004 and SF Barry Bonds in 2002...His 10 HR are the most in a Rays postseason career, ahead of Evan Longoria (9)...Hit 3 HR in the ALDS, 4 HR in the ALCS and 3 HR in the World Series, tying the major league record for most career postseason series with 3 HR (or more)…joined Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Carlos Beltrán and José Altuve...Recorded five three-hit games, passing HOU José Altuve in 2017, STL Albert Pujols in 2004, SEA Edgar Martinez in 1995 and SEA Jay Buhner in 1995 for the most in a single postseason...Homered in Games 1-3 of the ALDS against the Yankees…became the third Ray to homer in three consecutive postseason games, joining Evan Longoria (4) in 2008 and Carlos Peña (3) in 2008...Named Most Valuable Player of the ALCS, the first rookie position player to win MVP of a League Championship Series or World Series… only three other rookies (all pitchers) had been named MVP of a League Championship Series: BAL Mike Boddicker (1983), FLA Liván Hernández (1997) and STL Michael Wacha (2013)...In Game 7 vs. HOU, became the first Rays rookie to homer in a “winner take all” game and became the first major league rookie with a go-ahead homer in a Game 7 since FLA Miguel Cabrera in the 2003 NLCS at CHC...Became the second rookie in major league history to hit 3 HR in a World Series, joining NYY Charlie Keller (3) in 1939…recorded at least 1 RBI in Games 3-6 of the World Series and became the first rookie in major league history to do so in four consecutive World Series games.
2019
Appeared in 19 games and made 4 starts, all in center field, over two stints with the Cardinals, his first career major league action...Selected from Triple-A Memphis on Aug 13 and made his major league debut the next night at KC, going 2-for-4 including a bases-loaded, RBI single off Kevin McCarthy in the 7th inning for his first career hit…optioned on Aug 19...Recalled on Sep 3 and remained on the active roster through the end of the season...Appeared in 16 of the Cardinals final 24 games… in addition to 2 starts over that span, was used as a pinch-hitter three times, pinch-runner six times and defensive replacement five times...On Sep 25 at ARI, hit a solo shot off Merrill Kelly in the 6th inning for his first career homer...Combined for 92 games between Double-A Springfield and Memphis, batting .344/.431/.571 (118-for-343) with 15 HR, 53 RBI and 17 SB… his 15 HR tied for 5th among Cardinals minor leaguers…ranked 4th with 44 XBH, 5th with 196 total bases and 7th with 17 SB...Missed the start of the season with a right hand fracture…made his season debut on May 11...Hit for the cycle on July 26 at Oklahoma City (Dodgers)…completed the feat with a 2-run triple in the 5th inning…joined Luke Voit in 2018 and Mark Little in 2000 as the only Memphis players to ever hit for the cycle...Named the Cardinals Minor League Hitter of the Month for both June and July, batting .376/.453/ .600 (77-for-205) over that stretch...Named to the Cardinals Organizational All-Star Team by MLB.com…named a Triple-A All-Star by Baseball America.
2018
Hit .274/.359/.433 (98-for-358) with 12 HR, 49 RBI and 26 SB in 113 games between Memphis and Springfield…spent multiple stints with each club, but rejoined Memphis on Aug 1 and stayed there through season's end…his 26 SB ranked 4th among Cardinals minor leaguers...Hit a grand slam on May 5 vs. Tulsa (Dodgers) in his first game after his transfer to Springfield… went 4-for-4 with 2 HR and 4 RBI on July 18 vs. Northwest Arkansas (Royals)...Played for the World team in the Futures Game in July at Nationals Park…entered in the 7th inning and reached on an error in his only at-bat...Hit .348/.464/.652 (8-for-23) with 2 HR and 7 RBI in the Pacific Coast League postseason, helping Memphis win the league championship...As the cleanup hitter, went 3-for-4 with 2 2B and 2 RBI in a 14-4 win over Durham in the Triple-A National Championship Game...Played 64 games for the Mayos de Navojoa in the Mexican Winter League, batting .292 (76-for260) with 25 2B, 14 HR and 37 RBI...Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 17 prospect in the Cardinals system following the season.
2017
Named a Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star. Was starting right fielder for the South squad and went 0-for-3 with a run scored... Honored as Florida State League Player of the Week (6/5-11) batting .333 (6-18) with 3 HR and 7 RBI...Homered in three straight games (6/9-11)...Had a 12-game hitting streak (5/28-6/13) batting .306 (15-49) during the stretch...Ranked among Cardinals minor leaguers in runs (72, 4th), doubles (32, T2nd), triples (4, T9th) and stolen bases (18, 5th)...Played for Navojoa in the Mexican Pacific Winter League. Led the team in home runs (13), doubles (19), hits (64) and runs (41).
