BALTIMORE \u2014 Rays players, staffers and social media posters have made the case repeatedly over the last several weeks for first baseman Jonathan Aranda to be honored as an American League All-Star.<\/p>\n
Saturday afternoon, he took matters into his own hands.<\/p>\n
As if his .330 average, .411 on-base percentage (both third best in the majors) and .915 OPS (10th best), and the metronome-like consistency of his swing weren\u2019t enough, Aranda on Saturday flexed his muscles.<\/p>\n
He launched a first-inning homer in the Rays\u2019 11-3 bounceback win over the Orioles that was an absolute blast, soaring over the right-centerfield fence and landing on Eutaw Street between the stadium and the warehouse building, estimated at a staggering 467 feet.<\/p>\n
The reactions on the field told you something, most notably Orioles rightfielder Ramon Laureano not flinching an inch as the ball jetted overhead.<\/p>\n
The numbers told you some other things:<\/p>\n
It was the longest homer by a left-handed hitter at Camden Yards in nearly 20 years (since stat-tracking started in 2008) and possibly longer.<\/p>\n
It was the third longest by a Ray in at least the 11 years of the Statcast era, trailing only blasts by Avisail Garcia (485 feet, 2019) and Mike Zunino (472, 2021).<\/p>\n
And it was the latest data point in a strong list of reasons why Aranda \u2014 who was been passed over in the fan voting \u2014 deserves to be in Atlanta for the July 15 game, either elected by the players or appointed by Major League Baseball.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan we get him to Atlanta, please? Like, please? Golly, he\u2019s so good,\u201d said outfielder Jake Mangum, who rapped three singles in the win that moved the Rays (47-36) within a half game of the AL East-leading Yankees. \u201cWatching him hit every day, and I\u2019m on deck sometimes watching him hit, it is fun to watch that dude swing a baseball bat.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Rays’ Jonathan Aranda celebrates his two-run home run during the first inning. It was estimated at a staggering 467 feet. [\u00a0NICK WASS | AP\u00a0]<\/p>\n
If he was an opposing pitching coach, Mangum said, he wouldn\u2019t know how to pitch Aranda.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the most just pure hitters I\u2019ve seen in the game, and he\u2019s got pop,\u201d Mangum said. \u201c… I would love to hear the debate on why he shouldn\u2019t (be an All-Star), but he absolutely deserves to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rays starter Zack Littell, who worked a solid seven innings, had already felt strongly about Aranda\u2019s candidacy. He raved about the home run.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt looked like just a flick of the wrist, and he hit it (nearly) 470 feet. It was crazy,\u201d Littell said. \u201cI\u2019ve said it a million times, it\u2019s almost not impressive, because it\u2019s just what we expect him to do. But awesome to watch him do it.<\/p>\n
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Explore all your options<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe guy obviously deserves to be an All-Star. He\u2019s just continued to hit all year. His cold streaks are one hit a night instead of three. He\u2019s incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n Aranda said he didn\u2019t know when he first made contact with Zach Eflin\u2019s 3-2 fastball that he had made history.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew it was going to be a home run but never that it was going to be (467) feet,\u201d he said via team interpreter Eddie Rodriguez. \u201cSometimes you don\u2019t know what you have in storage there. So I was surprised, and it feels good.\u201d<\/p>\n Aranda is 27 and in his first full season in the majors, having been limited by injuries and a lack of opportunity over the past few years.<\/p>\n He clearly wants the All-Star honor but is savvy enough to know that while he has better stats in almost every category, the two players who finished ahead of him in the public vote, Toronto\u2019s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Paul Goldschmidt, have earned their place among fans.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m happy. I\u2019m very appreciative of all the people that voted for me, but there are also other All-Stars that deserve that,\u201d Aranda said. \u201cI\u2019m aware of how the system works, and whatever God decides, that\u2019s what\u2019s going to be.\u201d<\/p>\n Littell seems to think Aranda won\u2019t have to resort to that high of an authority, that the players when they vote this week will recognize Aranda\u2019s accomplishments and reward him with the backup first base spot.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a player, you know the guys around the league,\u201d Littell said. \u201cAnyone who\u2019s played against us, which is almost the entire league at this point, has seen Jonathan Aranda hit. I don\u2019t think any team has come to us and he\u2019s been cold for three straight games. We all know he can hit.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the players know the guys who should be in as well as, obviously, the social media stuff; they\u2019re pumping it out there. The guys that won the fan vote, that\u2019s awesome for them. But you also see the list, and then you end up going to look at the guys\u2019 numbers, like Jonathan Aranda.\u201d<\/p>\n Rays manager Kevin Cash said what stands out to him has been Aranda\u2019s consistency, which now includes a 13-game hitting streak and 16-game on-base streak, and a .376 average through his last 31 games.<\/p>\n Littell had a similar take.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he gets the pitch he\u2019s looking for, he doesn\u2019t miss,\u201d Littell said. \u201cAnd if he never gets the pitch he\u2019s looking for, he still usually hits it. He goes out there every night, he knows exactly what he wants to do. His cage work is impressive. He\u2019s got a great routine. And he just continues to hit. So, there\u2019s not many guys in the game that have done what he has done over this stretch. So, obviously, hope to see him playing on the (All-Star) break.\u201d<\/p>\n So, too, does infielder\/outfielder Jose Caballero: \u201cHe\u2019s one of the best, and it\u2019s no question about it. I don\u2019t know, the voting is kind of, like, weird. He deserves to be there. Hopefully he will be there.\u201d<\/p>\n The results of the player vote and MLB\u2019s six appointments to fill out the roster, and making sure all teams are represented, will be announced next Sunday.<\/p>\n Aranda will be hoping.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be something big,\u201d he said. \u201cBeing an All-Star is something that everybody dreams about. And it would be a legacy in my career.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n Sign up for our Sports Today newsletter<\/a> to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.<\/p>\n Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast<\/a> to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports.<\/p>\n Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on X<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe Rays’ Yandy Diaz, left, celebrates his three-run home run during the fourth inning, extending Tampa Bay’s lead to 8-0. [\u00a0NICK WASS | AP\u00a0]<\/p>\n