NEW YORK -- Randy Arozarena is one of the Rays’ most productive hitters. Entering Wednesday’s action against the Mets at Citi Field, he led the team in home runs (10, tied with Yandy Díaz) and RBIs (35) and ranked second in OPS (.946).

But Arozarena doesn’t want to be known just for his skills in the batter’s box. He also wants to be recognized for what he does with the glove.

Rays catcher Christian Bethancourt will never forget the conversation he had with Arozarena before the season started.

“He is mad that people don’t think he is good enough defensively,” Bethancourt recalled. “He has a purpose this year that he wants to be in the Gold Glove competition. He wants to go for a Gold Glove. He is taking his chances while he can.”

Arozarena has yet to make an error in 57 chances. And on Friday against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, he showed how much he wants to be mentioned in the American League Gold Glove conversation.

In the bottom of the seventh inning with runners on first and second, Arozarena was stationed in left-center when Yankees catcher Jose Trevino hit a ball near the left-field foul line. As Bethancourt put it, “There was a zero percent chance … that someone was going to catch the ball.” But Arozarena made a great diving catch to save two runs.

“When Trevino hit the ball, I was able to get a really good jump. That’s why I was able to get to the baseball,” Arozarena said through interpreter Elvis Martinez.

The results have been great in large part because Arozarena has put in the work before games with outfield/first-base coach Chris Prieto, and that has impressed the Rays.

“I give him all the credit in the world,” Arozarena said about Prieto. “He is the one that pushes me to have consistency. That's the key word in this answer. Just being consistent with my first steps, where I’m going, where I’m getting to the baseball. I give him all the credit.”

The Rays have also noticed that Arozarena’s attention to detail and work ethic have elevated his defense. He is no longer letting his physical ability take over. He has been a lot better throwing to the right base and not forcing the issue.

On May 10 in the series finale against the Orioles at Camden Yards, Rays manager Kevin Cash gave Arozarena the day off. Instead, Arozarena spent pregame working on his defense.

“He is highly motivated to be a really good player, overall,” Cash said. “I think Randy has put in the work. The other day, it was one of the more impressive things I’ve seen Randy do off the field. [The night before, we told him] he had a scheduled off-day. He came in the next day, talked to Prieto and said, ‘Let’s go. Let’s get out on the field during optional batting practice and work some fly balls, work some throws.’ … He is highly motivated. He wants to continue to improve.”

While he is known for his offense, Arozarena feels he is a better defender than most people realize.

“The way I think about it is, when I’m playing defense, I have control of what I’m catching, what I’m not, what I’m throwing, how I’m running, what ball I’m going to get,” Arozarena said. “But when I’m hitting, I don’t know what pitch [the opposing pitcher] is throwing. It’s a different aspect of the game that I need to get ready for.”