2024-05-06 15:40:21
PHOENIX — Luis Arráez knows how to make an impressive entrance.
The Venezuelan and new Padres player had barely unpacked his luggage at Chase Field after arriving from the airport about an hour before batting leadoff against the D-backs on Saturday night. By the time the Fathers completed a 13-1 victoryArraez had four hits, two runs scored, a double and an RBI.
“When I got my first hit, my double, I said, ‘Here we go. This is incredible. This is incredible’. That was one of my dreams,” said Arráez. “I’m living my dream right now.”
Arráez finished the day with six hits in four at-bats, becoming the first player to debut with the Padres with a four-hit game. The victory, which featured home runs by Jurickson Profar and Ha-Seong Kim, was the fourth in a row for San Diego.
“I couldn’t have planned it better,” manager Mike Shildt said. “He gets (shirt) No. 4, and he goes out and has four hits. I’ve seen it in the league before, obviously, but it’s pretty special to see it up close. “It’s great to have him on our side.”
When it was known that Arráez was heading to the Padres in a trade with the Marlins, a stir was created in the San Diego clubhouse on Friday night.
“This guy is probably the closest thing to Tony Gwynn there is right now,” said Fernando Tatis Jr.
“Don’t attack me,” Tatis added with a smile. “I said ‘closer’.”
That’s high praise in this organization. Gwynn, Mr. Padre, won eight batting titles in San Diego, but the Tatis comparison shows the level of excitement in the clubhouse seeing a lineup with so many stars getting even better.
“It’s hard to find a comparison to Tony Gwynn,” Shildt continued, “but if there is one in our modern game, we now have it in our team, and that just feels good.”
The excitement created by Arráez’s arrival was palpable in the stadium throughout the game, and his four hits in a row lifted his new teammates in the dugout.
“It acts like a spark plug. He’s really hard to get out and finds a way to get on base. So it will be really fun to have him on base with the power we have behind him,” said right-hander Michael King, who pitched six scoreless innings with three strikeouts and no walks.
“A left-handed hitter was something we prioritized,” general manager AJ Preller explained, “and I think ultimately we discussed whether to wait. [hasta la fecha límite de cambios] or go out and try to get one of the best ones that would probably be available and do it in one go. This will give us Luis Arráez for 140 games instead of going and getting someone else for 60.”
As he demonstrated in his debut with the Padres, Arráez brings an elite ability to get on base. Saturday was his 12th game with four or more hits since 2022, the most in the Major Leagues in that period.
“I know Manny, Tatis and Bogaerts, those guys have a lot of energy,” Arráez said. “So I just wanted to be here and bring my energy too. What game. What a day for me too.”
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