If you ask most baseball fans to name the greatest postseason hitter in history, one name comes up almost immediately: Reggie Jackson. He’s literally known as Mr. October for his iconic playoff performances with the Yankees and Athletics, capped by his three-homer game in the 1977 World Series.
But in recent years, another player has started building a postseason résumé that rivals even Jackson’s. A player who has thrived when the pressure is highest and the lights are brightest: Randy Arozarena.
However, after splitting two games at home of the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers, the Mariners’ postseason star has been quiet. Batting just 1-for-8 with a stolen base and a run, Arozarena hasn’t yet been the spark many fans were hoping for. Games 3 and 4 in Detroit are where Seattle will need Randy to find that extra gear, the one that has made him one of the most feared hitters in October.
In Game 2, despite Randy’s quiet performance, Jorge Polanco stole the show with two home runs, while Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez delivered clutch back-to-back doubles to give the Mariners a late lead. The pitching staff, led by Luis Castillo, was outstanding, with Castillo not allowing a hit until his final pitch in the fifth inning.
Randy Arozarena’s October Breakthrough
The legend of Arozarena began in the fall of 2020, in a season played without fans during the pandemic. The atmosphere may have been quieter, but Randy made it unforgettable.
In 20 postseason games that year, he hit 10 home runs and batted .377/.442/.831. He carried the Tampa Bay Rays to the World Series, earned ALCS MVP honors, and instantly became a postseason star.
Arozarena has built a reputation as one of the most dangerous playoff hitters in the game. His career postseason line before this year:
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.354 AVG
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1.128 OPS
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11 HR in 33 games
That is not just impressive, it is historically elite. In fact, among players with at least 100 career postseason plate appearances, only Babe Ruth (1.214 OPS) and Lou Gehrig (1.214 OPS) have a higher OPS. That puts Arozarena in the same conversation as the all-time legends, while his performance in the modern era under high-pressure conditions arguably makes him the most dangerous playoff hitter of his generation.