The first baseman and outfielder from Artemis left a mark in the National Series for 13 seasons, with more than 120 home runs and more than 600 RBIs.
MADRID, Spain.- Former Cuban baseball player Pedro Arozarena Zayas, who was on the roster of the Havana Vaqueros for more than a decade, died this Thursday at the age of 54, according to confirmed independent portals specialized in Cuban sports.
A native of the Mariel municipality, in the current province of Artemisa, Arozarena was born on June 8, 1971 and spent his entire career in the National Series under the colors of the Habana team, between 1994 and 2007. He served as a first baseman and outfielder, and was recognized for his offensive power, which made him one of the key pieces of the capital’s lineup during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Throughout 13 National Series, He accumulated 980 hits in 3,315 times at bat, for an offensive average of .296. His extra-base production included 174 doubles, 13 triples and 129 home runs, along with 603 RBIs. These figures placed him among the most productive hitters of his generation in Cuban baseball.
His best seasons came in the first years of the new millennium. In 2002 he hit 19 home runs and in 2003 he hit 20, establishing himself as one of the most powerful hitters in the championship. Between 2001 and 2003 he had three consecutive seasons with 70 or more RBIs. In the 40th National Series he was co-leader in doubles with 28, sharing that leadership with Camagüey-born Leslie Anderson. He also starred in a memorable day on February 20, 2003, when he hit three home runs in the same game against Isla de la Juventud, at the 26 de Julio stadium in Artemisa.
Arozarena was part of the feared offensive group of the Vaqueros led by Pedro Luis Rodríguez and, later, by Esteban Lombillo. He shared ground with emblematic figures such as Rolando Laza and Rigoberto Blanco. His performances led him to join national preselections on several occasions. Additionally, he represented Cuba at the 1989 World Junior Championships, held in Canada.
Although the causes of his death have not been made public, the former baseball player had been facing serious kidney problems for years. Various publications indicate that one of his brothers donated a kidney to him in an attempt to improve his health.
After his retirement in 2007, Arozarena remained away from public life and forgotten by officials, while his legacy was recorded in the statistics of Cuban baseball. His death has generated numerous expressions of regret among fans and followers of Cuban baseball.
