That last line was true. Arrojo defected right before the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, and he signed with the Devil Rays, a year before they came into existence. The Cuban was a vital member of the first year of the team, where he went 14-12, and made the All-Star Team. He threw for 202 Innings, and was the runner-up for the Rookie of the Year. This was a good start, but realistically the end. Arrojo’s conditioning and age (he was in his early 30s) showed the next season, as his skill rapidly deteriorated and he had an ERA in 1999 over five. He would be traded to Colorado the season after.
While Arrojo had a losing record (21-24), his rookie season was a draw in the early years of the Devil Rays.
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