How Bad Bunny, Travis Scott, Ken Griffey Jr. joined Arozarena’s world

PORT CHARLOTTE — Evan Longoria is and may always be the best player in franchise history, a product of how well (51.2 WAR), and how long (10 seasons) he played for the Rays.

He also was their biggest star, with the cache, name recognition, a couple of national ad commercials (New Era caps, Gillette) and a video game cover (MLB 2K10) in his portfolio.

But Randy Arozarena could be making a run at Longoria’s celebrity status.

Having burst onto the major-league scene with his stirring 2020 postseason performance and getting a major boost from his fan-pleasing play for Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Arozarena has over the past year become something of a global sensation.

Most of the attention has come from his play, including a strong 2023 first half that earned him a starting spot in the All-Star game and a slot in the home run derby, in which he put on a dramatic show.

But it also has to do with his engaging nature, interaction with fans and the fun he brings to the field, such as wearing cowboy boots and/or a sombrero during batting practice.

And of course his arms-crossed gesture — “The Randy” — that has become a thing across all sports and demographics, with videos and pictures (including Shohei Ohtani) popping up across the Internet.

The Rays, who traditionally haven’t marketed individual players too heavily, also are giving him plenty of love.

They brought back the Randy Land seating area for Friday games they launched, then expanded due to demand, last season. They also featured him in what will be two of their most popular giveaways, a kids luchador wrestling mask (May 5) and a streetwear shirt (July 12).

Now Arozarena is crossing into the pop culture world.

He was ecstatic to be among nine players mentioned in a recent song, “Nadie Sabe,” by worldwide rap sensation Bad Bunny, who sang, in Spanish, “I impress myself like Randy Arozarena.”

He connected directly with another big-name rapper, Travis Scott, going to Miami to meet him, attend his concert and work on some kind of upcoming, secret-for-now collaboration.

“We’ve got something in the works,” Arozarena said via team interpreter Manny Navarro. “We’ve been working together on something, so that’s how I was able to connect with him.”

Arozarena singing? Scott swinging?

“Can’t say,” Arozarena said.

Arozarena also was photographed with Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. — both with their arms crossed; Arozarena in a Rays shirt, baseball pants and cowboy boots — in what looked by the background to be a commercial shoot, with Nike tagged in the Instagram post.

Details? “I can’t tell you,” he said.

Arozarena had other brushes with fame during the offseason, hosting a “Randy Fest” event in Mexico with several bands, doing a snazzy fashion shoot after being named one of GQ Mexico’s Men of the Year, meeting with Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, appearing at charity events for Pete Alonso and others, doing TV work at the Caribbean Series in Miami and more.

Arozarena also made time for extensive workouts in Tampa, reporting to camp showing off his noticeably broader chest and bigger biceps, intended to help him maintain strength during the season.

Arozarena — whose defection from Cuba and rise to stardom previously had spawned talk of a movie — said he didn’t expect or seek the fame and attention.

“All I wanted to do was have success in the big leagues,” he said. “That was the ultimate goal. I didn’t plan any of this. I didn’t expect any of it. It’s all still kind of new to me as it comes out.”

But he has enjoyed the ride.

“It feels really good. Humbling. I’ve had a lot of fun this offseason,” Arozarena said. “My name is on songs. I never thought about that. Meeting artists, world-class artists out there, famous people. I’m having a lot of fun. I feel blessed, and hopefully it keeps going.”

Rays rumblings

As with other foreign professionals, the Rays have control of Japanese pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa only for the term of his contract, which is just for 2024, rather than six years with a typical first-year player. … Players whose job status could most be affected by the signing of Amed Rosario look to be infielder Curtis Mead or outfielder Johnny DeLuca, and eventually Taylor Walls or Jose Caballero. Also, it’s now easier to trade Harold Ramirez. … Injured top starter Shane McClanahan took 14 clubhouse workers out for dinner Tuesday, posting on Instagram: “Best clubhouse staff in the game! Couldn’t be more thankful.” … There’s talk of staging a few postgame concerts this season, with info on that and a Ballpark Pass ticket program expected around mid-March. … Outfielder Josh Lowe got engaged in December to longtime girlfriend Anna Spencer, then joked that older brother Nathaniel, who plays for Texas, “beat me to the Silver Slugger, Gold Glove and World Series championship, but I did this first.” … Taj Bradley, Yandy Diaz, Arozarena, Lowe and DeLuca posed for a fashion shoot to be featured in the March edition of Bay magazine. ... Rosters for the March 9-10 exhibitions vs. Boston in the Dominican Republic will be limited to 30 players. As with most international trips, they will receive a stipend from MLB. … Asked by a group of aspiring journalists what baseball moment “real or fictional” he’d like to go back in time to see, manager Kevin Cash opted for recent history: Mike Brosseau’s revengeful homer off the Yankees’ Aroldis Chapman in the 2020 playoffs. … With Rosario and DeLuca joining Jose Siri, the Rays have three of the majors’ 30 fastest players, per baseballsavant.com’s 2023 season sprint speed metric, calculated by feet per second. … Longtime Rays first-base coach George Hendrick is on the Cardinals’ Hall of Fame ballot; see cardinals.com/HOF to vote. … The Rays got votes, though not nearly as many as the A’s or Red Sox, as the AL’s least improved team in Jayson Stark’s survey of MLB execs, staff and coaches for The Athletic.

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