Rays’ Randy Arozarena ready to turn All-Star Week into Randy Land

ST. PETERSBURG — Rays leftfielder Randy Arozarena is ready to turn Seattle into Randy Land.

Arozarena, known for his crossed-arms celebrations and liveliness on the field, will take the field at T-Mobile Park Monday for the Home Run Derby. Then, he’ll start in the All-Star Game on Tuesday.

Manager Kevin Cash said he believes Arozarena is ready for the moment.

“He rises to the brightest of occasions,” Cash said. “That will be a pretty big spotlight. I know he’ll be amped up.”

Arozarena will be the first Ray to compete in the Home Run Derby since Carlos Pena in 2009. The leftfielder has done three mock practices ahead of Monday: one at T-Mobile Park, where the Rays played last week, and two at Tropicana Field. He hit 18 in each round.

Arozarena said he’s excited to represent his team in multiple All-Star Week events, especially given his four years with the Rays. He is even more amped to face off against one of his best friends in the derby, the Rangers’ Adolis Garcia. He’s predicted that he’ll defeat Garcia in the first round.

Three other Rays also made the American League All-Star roster: shortstop Wander Franco, pitcher Shane McClanahan and first baseman Yandy Diaz. McClanahan is unable to play, however, because he is on the injured list.

Rasmussen frustrated by injury

Pitcher Drew Rasmussen didn’t think he needed surgery.

He spent time rehabbing his elbow after he was placed on the injured list for a flexor strain on May 12. After the initial swelling went down, he felt good. An MRI proved otherwise.

“We learned that there were still some issues in there that we (have) got to get cleaned up,” Rasmussen said. “Long-term, everything’s going to be okay, but for now (I’m feeling) definite frustration.”

Now, Rasmussen is scheduled for InternalBrace surgery later this month. The procedure differs from Tommy John surgery in that it reinforces the UCL with a brace rather than replacing it. Rasmussen likely will be out through mid-2024 as he recovers from the procedure.

Cash said Rasmussen did everything asked of him, and the Rays had been hopeful he would return this season. Surgery is the best way to safely get Rasmussen back on the field as soon as possible, the manager said.

Rasmussen, who already has had two Tommy John surgeries, has turned to others in the Rays’ clubhouse who had both Tommy John and InternalBrace surgery to learn about their experiences.

“Surgery is always complicated,” Rasmussen said. “It’s never easy, never straightforward. Once we’re on the other side of things, I think we’ll have a little more clarity. We’re going to do the best with the information we have today, and we’ll go forward from there.”

Miscellany

The Rays have another All-Star representative, as minor-league equipment manager Tim McKechney was invited to be part of the clubhouse staff in Seattle. … McClanahan threw a bullpen session Sunday. He looks on track to make his next start against the Kansas City Royals on July 16. … The Braves hit one home run against the Rays Sunday, extending their streak to a franchise-record 26 games. … The series featured three consecutive sellout crowds of 25,025. This is the first time Tropicana Field has been sold out for three straight games since 2019. … The Rays are now 33-6 when hitting two or more home runs. … Sunday marked the first time the Rays scored double-digit runs since they defeated the Royals 11-3 on June 23.

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