Four squared for Palm Beach's Arozarena

The life of a ballplayer starting a new league is difficult enough. When he's also adapting to a new country and a new culture, it can be daunting, which makes what Randy Arozarena is doing that much more impressive, especially to his manager.
"When you are a first-year player in this league and you get thrown right into [Class A Advanced], it would be tough on anybody," Palm Beach skipper Dann Bilardello said. "It takes a while to catch up. There are very few who get it going right off the bat, maybe some of those guys who are really, really special. But for most, it takes some time, especially for someone like him who is coming over to the U.S. for the first time."

Arozarena recorded his second straight four-hit game on Tuesday, helping Palm Beach defeat Lakeland, 9-5, at Joker Marchant Stadium. The 15th-ranked Cardinals prospect doubled twice and drove in two runs, one night after doubling and homering in his first career four-hit effort.
After batting .228 with nine RBIs in April, the 22-year-old is hitting .317 with 11 RBIs this month. Seven of his 13 multi-hit performances have come in the last 13 games, which has helped raise his average to a season-high .273.
Gameday box score
Arozarena's aptitude and the adjustments he's made have greatly impressed Bilardello.
"We're just really happy with the progress he's made so far," the former Major League catcher said. "He's got more to go, more to learn, more to do. But he handled a poor start well, which was nice to see. He keeps working at it and has been adjusting well, which is to his credit. Let's hope it continues."
Palm Beach hitting coach Erick Almonte agreed with Bilardello's assessment of the Cuba native.
"I really like the adjustments he's made on a daily basis," Almonte said. "We've been facing a lot of good pitchers who throw hard and his bat speed is incredible. He's been much better at shortening his swing and going gap to gap. And the results are showing every day.
"The month of April was his first time playing [in the United States]. This is a hard league to hit in and he was trying to do too much at the beginning. We made some adjustments and he's been swinging at strikes, which is key."
Arozarena singled to left field and scored on Casey Turgeon's homer in the first, then stroked a two-run double to left in the second. The 5-foot-11 outfielder ripped his second double of the night down the left field line in the fifth and flied to center in the sixth. Arozarena grounded a single up the middle in the eighth for his fourth hit of the night and eighth in 10 at-bats over the last two games.
"He can hit a fastball, but early on in the season he was a little bit too aggressive," Bilardello said. "He was swinging at everything, but he's gotten a little more patient and is learning the strike zone more each day and is learning to make adjustments within the game, which is great to see. This is a good league, everyone throws 96, 97, 98 [mph], so you've got to be ready to hit and he's learned that. He's keeping his AB's alive by fouling off tough breaking balls, and every now and then he'll get a hanger and he crushes them."
Almonte also likes the progress he's seen, but he wants to see more patience from Arozarena, who's walked five times in 42 games.
"He needs to take more walks," the hitting coach said. "If he does that, it will only help him, but he's swinging at good pitches. But when he moves up to Double-A or Triple-A, he's not going to get a base hit all the time, so it's important to be patient and take the walks."
Darren Seferina hit a three-run homer and finished with two hits, along with Turgeon and Austin Wilson. Leobaldo Pina also homered for Palm Beach, which has won eight of nine. 

Cardinals No. 24 prospect Zac Gallen did not figure in the decision after allowing four runs -- two earned -- on eight hits and two walks while striking out two in four innings.
Dustin Frailey had three hits and an RBI for Lakeland. Tigers No. 17 prospectMatt Hall surrendered eight runs on 10 hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 5 1/3 frames.