The MLB postseason got off to an exciting and sentimental start Tuesday as the mother of Tampa Bay outfielder Randy Arozarena, Sandra Gonzalez, threw out the first pitch of the wild-card game between the Rays and Rangers at Tropicana Field.
It was Gonzalez’s first time seeing her son play as a major leaguer, as she was granted a visa just last week to come see her son play in the United States.
Gonzalez threw a nearly perfect pitch to her son for the ceremonial pitch. As Bally Sports Florida’s Tricia Whitaker noted, it’s understandable where Arozarena gets his powerful arm.
If you’re wondering where Randy Arozarena got his arm, this is it. Wow 😱
What a moment.
Randy Arozarena’s mom throws out the first pitch after getting her visa last week to watch her son play in the majors for the first time ever. pic.twitter.com/tSEb8r93II
— Tricia Whitaker (@TriciaWhitaker) October 3, 2023
Arozarena is a native of Cuba who emigrated to Mexico in 2015. He later became a Mexican citizen and played for the nation in the World Baseball Classic. His mother is a resident of Mexico.
Arozarena, who hit .254 with 23 home runs and 95 RBIs during the regular season, singled to center field in his first at-bat Tuesday.
