Tampa Bay Rays Breakout Star Turning Heads
While the Tampa Bay Rays have been trying to figure out how to pile up more victories in the American League this season, they've been watching Jonathan Aranda mash at the plate. Aranda has been a pleasant surprise for manager Kevin Cash and his Rays teammates.
But Aranda had to deal with injuries last season, cutting into his prospective playing time at first base. This season, though, appears to be taking a different course for him. He's making the most of it, becoming the Rays' full-time starting first baseman.
What about his statistics? He's been nothing short of spectacular. Through Friday night's action, Aranda is hitting .315 with six home runs and 20 RBIs. He's got an OPS of .927 and a .523 slugging percentage. Those numbers are far and away better than his career numbers.
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Let's look at some granular numbers from Aranda's season, this time up until Thursday's games. Aranda was a pure boss when it comes to breaking balls, slugging .690 against them. He's been waiting on the pitch, not flailing away at the plate. What about off-speed pitches? Aranda was mashing at a .269 clip with a .462 slugging percentage.
Jonathan Aranda is filled with lots of confidence early this season for Tampa Bay
'I'm feeling good right now. Feeling a lot of confidence,' Aranda said through interpreter Eddie Rodriguez, MLB.com reported. 'I'm just looking for that pitch that I can drive, and that's what I've been doing.'
Cash knows that he's got a diamond in the rough, so to speak, with Aranda on his team. He's not complaining one bit.
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'He's really balanced. And I think even when he gets off balance, or the timing gets messed up, he keeps his hands and the barrel in the zone a long time where he can get out on his front foot and just push a ball the other way,' Cash said. 'We saw him do that a handful of times on the [last] homestand. That's a sign just of a really good hitter that's seeing the ball well.'
Don't be surprised if Aranda ends up getting a spot on the AL All-Star Team when the summertime classic takes place.
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