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Mexico's Arozarena hopes to face, eliminate Cuba in WBC final

Rob Tringali / Major League Baseball / Getty

Mexico outfielder Randy Arozarena is mapping out how he hopes the rest of the World Baseball Classic unfolds.

Arozarena said he's hoping Mexico meets Cuba in Tuesday's final and eliminates them, according to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez.

Arozarena is originally from Cuba and represented the country on a number of occasions earlier in his career.

He also spent time playing in the Mexican winter league and decided in 2020 that he wanted to begin representing Mexico in competition.

The 28-year-old has a daughter who was born in Mexico in 2018. Arozarena was officially granted Mexican citizenship in 2022 by Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Arozarena has emerged as one of the biggest stars of the tournament. He won MVP of Pool C after hitting .500 with one home run, nine RBIs, six runs scored, and five doubles.

Mexico manager Benji Gil had high praise for what he's seen from Arozarena.

"He's the biggest star right now in Mexico," Gil said Sunday, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

Mexico will look to punch its ticket to the finals when it takes on unbeaten Japan in the second semifinal on Monday night in Miami.

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