Tampa Bay Rays star Randy Arozarena detained in Mexico over domestic dispute

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena, who rocketed to stardom during the 2020 major league baseball postseason, has been detained in Mexico over allegations of a domestic dispute involving his daughter.

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According to Arozarena’s agent, Abel Guerra, the player is expected to be held in custody for 48 hours and will meet with his attorney, the Tampa Bay Times reported. It is not clear what charges Arozarena, 25, might be facing.

“The only thing I know is he was hyper-sensitive about making sure that the child’s needs were being taken care of,” Guerra told the newspaper. “He was always sending money down there, and he was very involved in her life. I don’t want to speculate about (anything else).”

The Yucatan state prosecutors’ office confirmed Tuesday that Arozarena was detained “for problems relating to his ex-partner,” ESPN reported.

Officials with the Rays said they are aware of the reports but have not commented.

Arozarena hit .377 in 20 postseason games for Tampa Bay. He set single-season postseason records for home runs (10) and hits (29). He was named the MVP of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros before the Rays lost in six games to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.

Two Mexican newspapers reported Arozarena’s arrest, the Times reported. One reported the charge involved the abduction of his daughter, while the other said he had been accused of violence against his former partner, the Times reported.

According to the Yucatán Ahora, Arozarena tried to leave with his daughter after arriving at her home with gifts, the Times reported. The Mexican newspaper said Arozarena fought with his former father-in-law, although Guerra said Arozarena was never married to the mother of the child.

The newspaper reported that neighbors heard the commotion and later stopped Arozarena’s car from leaving the area until police arrived.

The Diaro de Yucatán reported that Arozarena was arrested on a charge of violence against a woman.

“When it comes to family issues there are always layers of complexity. Everything is perspective,” Guerra told the Times. “Hopefully everything clears itself up. It’s a horrible, unfortunate situation.

“I know he loves that little girl. He’s been a doting dad.”

Arozarena has one other child with a woman he married earlier this month in Mexico, according to the Times.

In June 2015, Arozarena weathered an eight-hour boat ride and landed at Isla Mujeres, just off the Mexican coast from Cancún, according to The New York Times.

Arozarena made his major league debut in 2019 with the St. Louis Cardinals before he was traded to the Rays in January 2020. Arozarena missed the first five weeks of this season after contracting COVID-19, but eventually recovered and made his Tampa Bay debut on Aug. 30.

Last month, officials with Wonderfilm Media said they were in the early stages of production on a film about Arozarena, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

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