MLB 2024 | Arozarena steals his 15th base, catches the attention of the Dodgers; Gurriel Jr. records a single and a stolen base; Zulueta returns to the Majors
- Ray Otero-Alonso
- Jul 24, 2024
- 3 min read
Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources
Randy Arozarena swipes 15th bag.
Arozarena had a quiet night at the plate, going hitless in two at-bats but drawing two walks, scoring a run, and stealing a base in Tuesday's 4-2 victory against the Blue Jays. The outfielder, aged 29, kickstarted the scoring in the second inning by earning a walk, swiping his 15th base of the season, and then crossing home plate on a Josh Lowe single. Throughout this month, Arozarena has been getting on base consistently, reaching base in 15 out of 17 games and maintaining a strong .270/.352/.556 slash line in July. He has recorded six doubles, four home runs, five stolen bases, seven RBIs, and eight runs this month, showing a significant improvement from his slow start to the season. Despite his initial struggles, Arozarena is among the nine players who have achieved both 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases in the year 2024.
The Dodgers have displayed interest in Randy Arozarena.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are aiming to acquire a significant offensive player for their outfield before the trade deadline on July 30. They have expressed interest in Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena, as per a source. Arozarena has had a somewhat underwhelming season in 2024, but his performance has improved notably since the start of June. As of Tuesday, he had a .906 OPS with seven home runs since June 1, resembling the player who was named American League Rookie of the Year in 2021 and earned an All-Star selection last year. Despite being 29 years old, Arozarena is currently earning $8.1 million in 2024 and is eligible for arbitration for the next two years.
Additionally, the Dodgers are eyeing Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr., who is under contract for $15 million in 2025 with $20 million club options for both 2026 and 2027. The Dodgers are interested in Robert as well, but the price to acquire him is steep.
The Phillies would be an ideal match for Luis Robert Jr.
According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Luis Robert Jr., the outfielder for the Chicago White Sox, could be a great addition to the Philadelphia Phillies. Passan notes in his recent article that the Phillies, who are leading the National League East, are in need of a standout center fielder, and Robert fits the bill perfectly. With a batting average of .232/.306/.475, 11 home runs, 23 RBIs, and 23 runs scored in 47 games, Robert has also successfully stolen 12 bases out of 12 attempts. Amidst trade speculations, should Robert join the Phillies, he would significantly bolster their lineup, potentially improving his own stats as well.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with a stolen base in victory.
In Tuesday's 6-2 victory against the Royals, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. recorded a 1-for-4 performance, including a stolen base and a run scored. Since the All-Star break, Gurriel has gone 4-for-22 in five games, with none of those hits resulting in extra bases. He has yet to produce an RBI during this period. Prior to the break, the outfielder excelled, hitting .318 with eight extra-base hits and 14 RBIs in the 21 games leading up to the All-Star break. So far this year, Gurriel holds a .259/.289/.407 slash line with five stolen bases, 13 home runs, 56 RBIs, 45 runs scored, 15 doubles, and a triple across 93 games.
Yosver Zulueta returns to the Majors.
According to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer, Zulueta was brought back to the Reds from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday. The 26-year-old pitcher has given up just one run in two relief appearances for Cincinnati this season, totaling four innings. Zulueta's return will provide the Reds with an additional choice for middle relief duties.
According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Yandy Díaz is still absent from the team as he deals with a personal family issue.
The Rays have not provided any update on when Díaz will be back. The 32-year-old experienced corner infielder has been absent from the team since last Friday and was placed on the restricted list over the weekend to open up a roster spot while he is away.
José Iglesias was absent from lineup.
José Iglesias was not in the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Yankees. He entered the game as a pinch runner and did not have any at bat. Iglesias has essentially been a regular this month, splitting starts between second and third base.
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