Cuban outfielder Randy Arozarena is emerging during the World Baseball Classic as a star of Team Mexico.
Arozarena has lived in Mexico for nearly a decade, having defected to the nation in 2016 and played for multiple Mexican leagues, even after joining the Cardinals on a $1.25 million deal the year of his arrival. Arozarena and his family have maintained residence in Mérida, Mexico ever since.
In a lengthy profile in the NY Times from 2020 title, “How Mexico Shaped Randy Arozarena” the Rays eventual Rookie of the Year winner explained his deep love for the nation south of our border:
Make no mistake, Arozarena is Cuban.