AL WILD CARD SERIES: RANGERS VS RAYS

October 4, 2023

Randy Arozarena

Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay Rays

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Randy, we talked to you before the game yesterday. What was the whole day experience like of having your mom here, of catching that pitch. Of seeing her after the game, whatever you guys did last night? What was the whole day like?

RANDY AROZARENA: It was a very special day for me. It was the first time she was able to see me play professional baseball in an MLB stadium. Personally I think I had a pretty good game, and I was very happy she was able to see that.

Q. How is the clubhouse right now after the game yesterday, after the development of how it happened? What's the mentality like inside the clubhouse now?

RANDY AROZARENA: Yesterday was a whole 'nother game. We've got to come back and stay focused. Everybody has got to step it up a little bit. We know we had kind of a rough game yesterday, but we've still got to come out a little bit focused with a better mentality. We know that this a we either win or go home day today, so we just have to stay locked in for today's game.

Q. It was a tough game yesterday, not a typical Rays game. What does a typical Rays game look like? What are you hoping to see today that the Rays usually do?

RANDY AROZARENA: Every game is a little bit different. Every game is different. One day you can make a mistake. The next day you can make a nice play. You can hit the ball hard and not get any results from it, or you hit a ball hard and it's the key hit to the game. Every game is different. We've just got to treat it the same and just go out there and play.

Q. Randy, from your perspective, what was the process of your mother getting her Visa like, and what did it mean that she was able to be here in time for the playoffs?

RANDY AROZARENA: It had been a process. It has been about six or seven years ago since I took her out of Cuba into México. It had been about a five-year process to try to get a tourist Visa, and it wasn't until last week that we were able to get that done so she was able to make it here for this.

Q. You're trying to beat Adolis Garcia right now, but what is it like to reflect on the journey you two have had and the success he's had?

RANDY AROZARENA: It was a process. It was a process for both of us to leave Cuba and come to play in the States. He had a different situation where he had to get out of his contract in Japan to come over to be able to play here.

We got to build a relationship when we were at the Cardinals. We got to spend our first Spring Training there and have fun. That's kind of where the friendship started. He's the godfather of my daughter. He's had a tremendous career, two years in the All-Star Game and then hitting 30-plus home runs. He's a very good player.

Q. Randy, the offensive struggles have been widely reported for the team. You guys have scored one run in the last 33 innings in the postseason. How do you combat trying to do too much? How do you make sure that you guys stay within your own -- what you can do?

RANDY AROZARENA: Yeah, we all know we've been struggling to score some runs. We all are doing our best to get hits. We all want to hit homers. Nobody is not trying to score runs. And I think the game just kind of happens that way. We've got to keep on going, playing hard. Our hits are going to come. Every game is going to be a little bit different. We're not trying to play that way, but we're hopeful that these next few games we score more runs.

Q. You had another good game yesterday and everyone really knows how good you can be in the postseason. Do you approach the postseason differently than the regular season, and why do you think you are so good at this time of year?

RANDY AROZARENA: I try to be the same guy. I think it's the work, as well. I try to keep the same mentality, keep the same approach. I think the playoffs change it because it's a smaller series in order to get to the World Series, and I think with those games, the games matter a little bit more. So I try to just do the same thing, not change too much, stick with the approach. And I think with the smaller amount of games, the focus stands up a little bit more.

I have a lot more fun with these games. The season is so long, so with these games I like to have more fun. The ultimate goal is not just to win but to win the ring, as well.