Look no further: Arozarena is the Rays' key to the postseason

With the wild card fights knocking at the door, the official MLB site took on the task of choosing the essential piece of each team for the postseason, and once in the Rays there was no room for doubt: the man is Randy Arozarena.

"Yandy Díaz is their best hitter, to the point that led the American League average. Isaac Paredes has been their big power threat and their main run producer. But Nobody can take the Rays to another level like Arozarena"wrote columnist Adam Berry.

The man from Pinar del Río was of more less during the campaign, but they still consider it "the straw that stirs the drink", as Reggie Jackson defined in 1977 as that class of players who inspire others on the path to victory. He had a fateful last month (.216 average with just seven RBIs), but no one has forgotten the things he is capable of doing in the so-called 'short series'.

"Arozarena tends to find another gear on the big stages," said Berry, who cited his record-breaking efforts in the 2020 postseason and his performance with Mexico in the World Classic this year. "It's his time to shine again."

Despite the marked decline in its performance during 2023, the Mantuan He closed the course in privileged positions within the American circuit in walks (seventh with 80), on-base percentage (eighth with .364) and runs scored (ninth with 95).