In a heartwarming moment before the Tampa Bay Rays‘ matchup against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, Randy Arozarena‘s mother, Sandra Gonzalez, had her time to shine. Gonzalez, who just received her visa last week, was able to watch her son play in the big leagues for the first time.
As a former softball player for Team Mexico, Gonzalez showcased her skills by throwing a perfect strike without a windup, earning her a round of applause from the crowd. Arozarena met her at the mound and embraced her with a hug, clearly touched by her presence.
Gonzalez just received her visa last week, making this the first time she will see her son play in the big leagues.
Randy Arozarena’s mom absolutely kills first pitch, crowd reacts accordingly
Randy is one of Rays’ stars
Arozarena, who made his MLB debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2019 before being traded to the Rays in 2020, had a breakout performance during the Rays’ run to the 2020 World Series. He batted an impressive .377 with a 1.273 OPS and set an MLB record with 10 home runs in that playoff run.
Since then, Arozarena has maintained a solid performance, averaging 21 home runs, 80 RBI, and 25 stolen bases in the past three seasons. He has a batting average of .264 with a .792 OPS.
The talented outfielder was recognized for his achievements when he won the AL Rookie of the Year award in 2021 and earned his first All-Star Game appearance in 2023. Arozarena’s impact was felt early in the postseason as he singled to center in his first at-bat. However, the Rangers managed to take a 1-0 lead in the second inning, putting the Rays in an early hole on their home turf.
The matchup between the Rays and the Rangers showcased the intensity and excitement of postseason baseball. With Arozarena’s mother present for the first time, it added an extra layer of emotion to the game. The Rays will look to rally and overcome their early deficit as they aim to advance in the AL Wild Card series.
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