Rolando Arrojo

Luis Rolando Arrojo Avila

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 220 lb.

• Debut April 1, 1998
• Final Game September 22, 2002
• Born July 18, 1965 in Havana, Cuba

BR page

Biographical Information

Rolando Arrojo was the first All-Star in Tampa Bay Devil Rays history, crafting a 14-12, 3.56 mark with 152 strikeouts in 202 innings in 1998, the franchise's inaugural season following the expansion of 1998. He had been one of the first acquisitions for the club, signing in April 1997 after defecting from Cuba a year prior. In 1999, he took a step back to 7-12, 5.18 with 107 strikeouts in 140 2/3 innings and he was traded twice in the next year, to the Colorado Rockies and Boston Red Sox, with middling results. He eventually became a swingman with the Sox, throwing his last big league pitch in 2002. Before hanging up his spikes, he allowed the 400th home run to two of baseball's greatest juniors: Cal Ripken Jr. and Ken Griffey Jr.

Arrojo won gold with Cuba at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He was 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA in the 1993 Intercontinental Cup, fanning 17 in 11 innings. He was also 2-0 for the Gold Medalists in the 1993 Central American and Caribbean Games, with a 0.00 ERA; Marvin Zelaya was listed as the ERA leader (0.00 in more innings) while Arrojo tied Juan Huazequi and Rafael Santiago for the win lead. In the 1994 Baseball World Cup, he was 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA and struck out 17 in 11 innings. He had a 1-0, 3.27 record in the 1995 Intercontinental Cup.

Notable Achievements

• AL All-Star (1998)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1998)