There is a lot to be thankful for as Tampa Bay Rays fans

The growing influence of Randy Arozarena

Randy Arozarena is one of the most polarizing figures in baseball. His antics while representing Mexico were well-documented during the World Baseball Classic earlier this year. Not only was he playing well, but he was doing it in style. Some people would call it cocky. Others respected it because he was backing it up on the field. Arozarena hit .450 in six games, slugging a home run and nine RBIs while making some stunning defensive plays, including a home run robbery against Japan in the semi-finals. His celebration pose also gained some notoriety.

When Arozarena returned to St. Petersburg for the start of the season, his star power was off the charts. He turned in another incredible season, recording his third-straight 20/20 season with a career-high 23 home runs and his first All-Star Game appearance in August. Left field was dubbed "Randy Land" for Friday night home games in honor of the star. Arozarena has three more years under team control before potentially hitting the market, so the team has some time to ponder his future. Regardless, Arozarena's influence is growing around the world, putting eyes on Tampa Bay.