Mariners to be represented by Randy Arozarena at All-Star Game

The mercurial Randy Arozarena is headed to Philadelphia as a result of being the Mariners’ most consistent threat in the lineup this season.

It was a very good afternoon for Randy Arozarena, as he went 3-for-4 and set the Mariners up for a rousing 11-0 win over the Blue Jays by hitting a grand slam in the second inning. It proved to be an even better evening, as he was named to the American League roster for this month’s All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

This is now the third time in his career that Arozarena has been selected as an All-Star, and second time in Seattle. He was elected via player voting and this is understandable, when considering how productive he has been this season as the Mariners’ most consistent offensive threat.

Sure, Dominic Canzone has a higher OPS, Luke Raley has more home runs and Julio Rodriguez has him beat in total bases. However, when it comes to overall impact in the lineup, Arozarena leads the team with a 3.0 bWAR and keep in mind this is despite sitting out eight games, mostly as a result of a left hamstring strain.

Randy Arozarena on course for a career year

In fact, Arozarena’s 3.0 bWAR has him well on course to beat his current career-high of 4.2, which was set back in 2021 while he was with the Rays. Sure, he’s supremely motivated by the fact he’ll be a free agent following this season, but the Mariners are benefiting from his pursuit of a lucrative new deal.

Arozarena still has his faults, specifically on the defensive side of his game. Overall though, he has been a constant offensively, in a year when Cal Raleigh has struggled immensely, while Josh Naylor and Julio Rodriguez got off to slow starts.

It is an injustice that Cole Young will not also be going to the All-Star game, with him being the best overall second baseman in the American League, but that’s a discussion for another day. For now, this is about celebrating Arozarena, with him becoming just the 15th Mariner in franchise history with multiple All-Star selections.

Randy Arozarena still appreciates how special an All-Star selection is

Arozarena was obviously delighted when he found out he was headed to Philadelphia, and met the media following Saturday’s game versus the Blue Jays. Speaking through interpreter Freddy Llanos, he said:

“I think for me, just sharing that locker room, being surrounded by all these different stars around the league, and also having the family there. It lets you know all the hard work you’ve put in throughout the season — or even before the season started — that you’re going in the right direction.”

Arozarena has built an impressive resume during his time in the majors, from winning AL Rookie of the Year, to being named ALCS MVP and holding the record for most home runs in a postseason. However, he still appreciates being named an All-Star, as he said:

“Growing up, when I was a little kid playing baseball, I didn’t think I’d ever reach the major leagues. I don’t think I’d ever even thought of an All-Star Game. And now in my short career, six years in the league now, I’ve made three All-Star Games. It’s definitely something special.”

Edgar Martinez and other Mariners hitting coaches get some love

The 31-year-old has established a more disciplined approach at the plate this season. This is evidenced by a 22.1 strikeout rate which projects to the lowest since his first year in 2019, when he only played 19 games with the Cardinals.

More generally speaking, Arozarena credits Mariners coaches Edgar Martinez (Senior Director, Hitting Strategy), Kevin Seitzer (Hitting coach) and Bobby Magallanes (Assistant Hitting Coach). He said:

“Being able to use all the field doesn’t just help me, but it also helps the entire team by being able to step up to the plate and know that I can kind of put the ball anywhere on the field

It’s undoubtedly been a rough season for the Mariners as a collective, sitting in the bottom-third for runs scored thanks to ranking 26th in batting average and 25th in OPS. However, it would have been even worse if not for the sustained productivity of Arozarena, and he deserves his trip to Philadelphia for the All-Star Game on July 14.

Photos court​‌esy of Tim Rogers Photography

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