The Tampa Bay Rays wouldn’t be playing in the World Series if not for Randy Arozarena, an unheralded Cuban rookie who supplied the Rays’ entire offense this month. And it’s possible that Arozarena wouldn’t be on the Rays if not for a glowing report from J.D. Elliby, the first Tampa Bay scout to see him.
On Friday, for Game 3 of the World Series, the two men were in the same place again for the first time since Arozarena became a Ray. Arozarena in the heart of the lineup, Elliby high along the third-base line, watching the potential he saw on backfields come to fruition on the biggest stage — as the Rays lost but Arozarena homered to continue his assault on the postseason record books.