When the San Diego Padres acquired Luis Arraez via trade a few weeks ago, they revealed their intentions: they want to contend and compete in 2024.
They might have the means to do so, and they figured to give it a shot and acquire the hitting machine and former two-time batting champion.
Arraez was somewhat cold for his standards in Miami, hitting .299/.347/.372 with a .719 OPS.
The trade to San Diego appears to have revitalized him, though, as he is currently working on an amazing hitting streak.
“Through 4 innings: Single, RBI single, Double. Luis Arraez has EIGHT STRAIGHT multi-hit games,” MLB Stats tweeted when the game, which resulted in a Padres 6-4 win against the Cincinnati Reds, was in the fourth inning.
Through 4 innings:SingleRBI singleDouble
Luis Arraez has EIGHT STRAIGHT multi-hit games 🤯 pic.twitter.com/PrharjEO5z
When the action ended, Arraez had logged four hits in total, taking his batting average to .341 for the year.
He has been magnificent for the Friars, with a .419/.449/.514 line and a .963 OPS in 16 games.
When he is at his best, there is no contact hitter in baseball like Arraez.
He probably won’t ever hit 20 home runs, but people pay to go watch him rope line drives left and right.
It’s his skillset, and he has made good money with that approach.
As long as the hits are falling (and boy, they have been falling like rain), Arraez could actually help San Diego achieve its objectives.
Right now, he has accumulated multiple hits in eight consecutive games and has eight hits in the last two days: four on Wednesday and four on Thursday.
For better or for worse, there is no other hitter like him in baseball these days.