Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 45
The Cardinals signed Arozarena for $1.25 million in July 2016, after the Cuban outfielder ranked as MLB Pipeline's No. 19 international prospect in his class. He reached Double-A in his first full season the following year, showing loud tools but also unrefined skills that underscored his room for improvement, and that trend continued in 2018 as he bounced between Double- and Triple-A. In 2019, however, Arozarena's impressive tools finally translated to on-field production, and the 24-year-old outfielder made his big league debut in August after a more consistent showing in the upper Minors. He ultimately batted .300 over parts of 20 games with St. Louis, only to be traded to the Rays along with Jose Martinez in the early 2020 trade that netted the Cardinals 2018 first-rounder Matt Liberatore.
With a quick bat and aggressive approach, Arozarena has no problems making consistent contact from the right side of the plate. The quality of said contact was considerably better in 2019, as Arozarena hit fewer ground balls, improved his fly-ball rate and showed greater aptitude for hitting to all fields en route to career highs in average (.344), home runs (15) and slugging (.571). Some evaluators believe Arozarena will tap into even more power, albeit mostly to his pull-side, in the coming years as he continues to tighten his approach, and the fact that he trimmed his strikeout rate by nearly three percent last season was a step in the right direction.
Arozarena is an above-average runner who is aggressive on the basepaths, often to a fault. Those wheels also enable him the ability to play all three spots, although he's a cleaner fit at the corners and has the necessary arm strength for right field. And while he currently profiles as more of bench outfielder, Arozarena also possesses more untapped potential than most players entering their age-25 season, with some evaluators viewing him as an everyday player if it all clicks. Statcast - Batting Season Pitches Batted Balls Barrels Barrel % Exit Velocity Launch Angle XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON Hard Hit % K % BB % 2019 98 16 1 6.3 90.7 5.6 .265 .432 .380 .348 .369 37.5 17.4 8.7 ALL 98 16 1 6.3 90.7 5.6 .265 .432 .380 .348 .369 37.5 17.4 8.7 MLB 40553 6.3 87.5 11.2 .251 .412 .317 .318 .371 34.5 21.7 8.3 Transactions Team Date Transaction 01/09/2020 St. Louis Cardinals traded RF Jose Martinez, LF Randy Arozarena and Future Considerations to Tampa Bay Rays for LHP Matthew Liberatore, C Edgardo Rodriguez and Future Considerations. 09/03/2019 St. Louis Cardinals recalled LF Randy Arozarena from Memphis Redbirds. 08/20/2019 St. Louis Cardinals optioned LF Randy Arozarena to Memphis Redbirds. 08/12/2019 St. Louis Cardinals selected the contract of Randy Arozarena from Memphis Redbirds. 06/12/2019 LF Randy Arozarena assigned to Memphis Redbirds from Springfield Cardinals. 05/11/2019 LF Randy Arozarena assigned to Springfield Cardinals from Memphis Redbirds. 04/04/2019 LF Randy Arozarena assigned to Memphis Redbirds from Cardinals Extended Spring Training. 03/24/2019 LF Randy Arozarena assigned to Cardinals Extended Spring Training from Memphis Redbirds. 02/11/2019 St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster OF Randy Arozarena to spring training. 12/04/2018 Mayos de Navojoa placed OF Randy Arozarena on the reserve list. 11/16/2018 OF Randy Arozarena assigned to Mayos de Navojoa. 09/05/2018 Memphis Redbirds activated LF Randy Arozarena from the temporarily inactive list. 08/31/2018 Memphis Redbirds placed LF Randy Arozarena on the temporarily inactive list. 08/01/2018 LF Randy Arozarena assigned to Memphis Redbirds from Springfield Cardinals. 07/17/2018 RF Randy Arozarena assigned to Springfield Cardinals from Memphis Redbirds. 07/16/2018 Memphis Redbirds activated RF Randy Arozarena from the temporarily inactive list. 07/14/2018 Memphis Redbirds placed RF Randy Arozarena on the temporarily inactive list. 05/18/2018 RF Randy Arozarena assigned to Memphis Redbirds from Springfield Cardinals. 05/04/2018 RF Randy Arozarena assigned to Springfield Cardinals from Memphis Redbirds. 04/04/2018 LF Randy Arozarena assigned to Memphis Redbirds from Springfield Cardinals. 02/07/2018 St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster OF Randy Arozarena to spring training. 10/10/2017 CF Randy Arozarena assigned to Mayos de Navojoa. 06/30/2017 LF Randy Arozarena assigned to Springfield Cardinals from Palm Beach Cardinals. 04/04/2017 OF Randy Arozarena assigned to Palm Beach Cardinals from GCL Cardinals. 02/27/2017 OF Randy Arozarena assigned to St. Louis Cardinals. 12/15/2016 Mayos de Navojoa placed OF Randy Arozarena on the reserve list. 10/11/2016 OF Randy Arozarena assigned to Mayos de Navojoa. 09/01/2016 OF Randy Arozarena assigned to GCL Cardinals. 08/01/2016 St. Louis Cardinals signed free agent CF Randy Arozarena to a minor league contract. 05/03/2016 Toros de Tijuana released OF Randy Arozarena. 04/23/2016 Toros de Tijuana placed OF Randy Arozarena on the reserve list. 04/17/2016 Toros de Tijuana signed free agent OF Randy Arrozarena.
