Luis Arraez is giving the Phillies a shot at a piece of history they haven’t touched in 12 years.
Since coming over from the San Francisco Giants at the MLB trade deadline earlier this August, Arraez has fit right in with a Phillies club that is sitting on the best record in baseball this month. He has kept doing what he does best, putting the bat on the ball, and now he’s in position to chase not just another batting title but a rare hits mark as well.
Arraez enters the stretch run with 161 hits and a .318 batting average, both tops in the National League after Wednesday’s 0-for-4 night in a win over the Seattle Mariners. He also has 25 hits in 86 at-bats with Philadelphia, good for a .291 average.
The more interesting race may be the one with Miami Marlins infielder Otto Lopez. Jared Greenspan of MLB.com pointed to the NL hits battle as one of the more compelling stat races in the league, and Arraez has the edge for now. Lopez is one hit back at 160.
If Arraez finishes first in the National League in hits, he would give the Phillies something they haven’t had since Ben Revere in 2014. Revere finished that season with 184 hits and a .306 batting average, and no Phillies player has led the NL in hits since.
The accomplishment would also put Arraez in some rarified company across the league. As Greenspan noted, he’s trying to lead the NL in hits for the third straight season, and that would make him the first player to top his league in hits in at least three consecutive years since Jose Altuve, who did it in the American League from 2014 through 2017.
Arraez is also still in the hunt for his fourth batting title. If he gets there, the Phillies would have a hitter win the NL batting crown in back-to-back seasons after Trea Turner’s .304 average in 2025.
With a little over a month left, the Phillies have a close race on their hands. Arraez holds a slim lead, Lopez is right there, and nobody else is close enough to crash the battle.
In Other News...
Phillies Face A Bigger September Decision Than Fans Realize
September always invites a little roster math, and for the Phillies that means a close look at who might get a late-season look from Triple-A. Carter Kieboom has been in the organization since being traded to Philadelphia in 2026, but injuries have slowed his climb and he is now nearing 29 without a promotion, even after working in Triple-A. Paul McIntosh, meanwhile, has been one of the more interesting catching names in the system and has put himself in position to at least enter the conversation.
McIntoshs timing may be better than Kiebooms, especially with the Phillies still sorting out their catching picture. A September call-up can be as much about opportunity as performance, and his strong Triple-A showing gives him a real case for consideration. The bigger question is whether the club sees a clean path to add him, or whether the uncertainty at catcher keeps the decision open a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Make A Quiet Front Office Shift As October Nears
With October creeping closer and the Phillies still chasing a playoff spot, the club made a subtle but notable front-office move this week, reshuffling responsibilities in a way that says as much about the organizations longer-term planning as its present pursuit. Dan Aucoin was promoted to assistant general manager for research and information, while Ray Robies moved up to director of minor league and international operations, part of the ongoing restructuring under president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.
The changes also included two newly created posts, with Luke Murton elevated to assistant general manager, hitting, and Edwin Soto named manager, baseball administration. These are the kinds of internal moves that rarely grab attention outside the building, but they can matter as the Phillies try to keep every part of the organization aligned for the stretch run and beyond. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Bullpen Could Get Timely Help With October Still In Doubt
The Phillies got a useful step forward from Tanner Banks, who began a rehab assignment with Triple-A after sitting out since early July with a left forearm strain. The left-hander worked a scoreless inning and struck out two, a encouraging sign for a bullpen that could use another healthy arm as the season tightens.
Banks is still tracking toward a mid-to-late September return, which means the real question is whether there will be enough time for him to get back into rhythm before the calendar flips to October. If the Phillies do manage to lock down a postseason berth, his availability could give them another lefty option at exactly the moment the bullpen depth chart starts to matter most. [Read more 🡒]