Luis Arraez does not hit for power, nor does he get on base at a high percentage. He's not a particularly good defender at second or first base, either.
But what the 28-year-old can do is put the ball in play. Hitting for contact is what led to Arraez winning three consecutive batting titles from 2022-24. So why is he still a free agent, especially after leading the National League with 181 hits with the San Diego Padres in 2025?
Pretty much everything listed in the first two sentences of this story could be a few of the main reasons. But as Arraez's agency, the MVP Sports Group, helps him find a club for his eighth Major League season, a statistic that is almost too good to be true came to light on Monday.
Arraez is a member of an exclusive club with Hall of Famers
Not Gaetti on X pointed out on Monday that Arraez is the only active MLB player with at least a.315 batting average (.317) and more walks (230) than strikeouts (215) in 3,500 or more career plate appearances.
Since 1935, 23 players who meet that criteria retired from the Major Leagues. All 23 of those players, including notable names like Tony Gwynn and Wade Boggs, are in the Hall of Fame.
Does that mean Arraez is a lock for a plaque in Cooperstown? Not necessarily, given that he has just 36 home runs and 16.4 bWAR through his first seven seasons. That's without breaking down his poor defensive metrics.
Arraez is an old-school style hitter. He slaps singles and seldom goes down on three pitches. The Padres could entertain bringing him back as their leadoff hitter, but barring a drastic change to his offensive approach, his odds of becoming the 24th member of that Hall of Fame group may be bleak.
More MLB news:
- Royals predicted as dark-horse landing spot for.814 OPS free agent from Yankees
- No one is talking about this team as a sleeper in Cody Bellinger's free agency market
- Diamondbacks get good news on signing Paul Goldschmidt in free agency
- Phillies have 3 teams competing for J.T. Realmuto's signature in free agency
- Tigers urged to sign 1 or 2 future Hall of Famers for Detroit reunion
- Rangers' rotation pitched as needing this free agent signing