Randy Arozarena Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Rays star calls out Cuba at World Baseball Classic

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 3/19/23

Randy Arozarena already has his eye on the championship game of the World Baseball Classic.

The Tampa Bay Rays outfielder has been a star player for Mexico, helping to carry them to the semifinals of the WBC this year. Though Mexico still has to face Japan in the semifinals, Arozarena is hoping that Cuba beats the United States in the other semifinal.

Why is that? He wants Mexico to be the ones to beat Cuba at the event.

Randy Arozarena said he's rooting for Cuba in its game against the US tonight — because he wants Mexico to be the ones to eliminate them in the championship.

— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) March 19, 2023

A lot will have to happen for that to come true. Both Japan and the U.S. are favored to win their semifinal games rather than Mexico and Cuba.

Arozarena is 8-for-17 with five doubles, a home run, seven runs scored and nine RBI in the WBC. His 1.566 OPS ranks among the best of all players who have participated in this year’s event.

On the mound, Mexico's Patrick Sandoval will face Japan's Roki Sasaki in Monday's matchup. Sasaki is regarded as one of the best pitchers in the world.

The Mexico vs Japan starting pitching matchup for Monday night’s WBC semifinal:

Patrick Sandoval
vs
Roki Sasaki pic.twitter.com/BoRgfdkUaa

— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) March 18, 2023