The San Francisco Giants just added one of baseball’s most consistent contact hitters to their infield, signing three-time batting champion Luis Arraez to a one-year deal. It’s a move that might fly under the radar in today’s power-heavy game, but make no mistake - Arraez brings a unique and valuable skill set to San Francisco’s lineup.
Arraez, who turns 29 in April, is a career .317 hitter with a left-handed swing that’s tailor-made for putting the ball in play. He doesn’t chase power, and he doesn’t need to.
What he does is square up pitches, spray line drives to all fields, and rarely strike out. In fact, he’s walked more times than he’s struck out over his MLB career - and that’s despite not being a particularly high-walk guy.
That tells you just how tough he is to punch out.
The Giants are expected to give Arraez a shot at second base, where there was previously an open competition between Casey Schmitt and Tyler Fitzgerald. With Arraez in the mix, San Francisco gets a proven bat and a stabilizing presence in the middle infield. He’s not flashy, but he’s reliable - and that’s something this Giants lineup could use.
Arraez is coming off a stretch with the Padres, having spent the last season and a half in San Diego after starting the 2024 season with the Marlins. He ended that year with a .314 average, earning his third batting title - remarkably, with his third different team.
He first claimed the crown in 2022 with the Twins, hitting .316, and followed that up with a .354 campaign for the Marlins in 2023. That kind of consistency isn’t easy to find, especially in a league where strikeouts are up and batting averages are down across the board.
Now, it’s fair to note that Arraez isn’t going to slug 30 homers or post gaudy power numbers. His OPS in 2025 dipped to .719 - down from his career mark of .777 - but his value isn’t tied to launch angle or exit velocity. It’s about bat-to-ball skills, situational hitting, and giving pitchers fits with a short, compact swing that’s built for contact.
For Giants fans, Arraez offers something different - a throwback hitter in a modern game. He’s not a franchise-altering addition, but he’s the kind of player who can help win close games, keep innings alive, and provide a steady presence in a lineup that’s looking for more consistency.
And on a one-year deal, it’s a low-risk, high-upside play for San Francisco. If Arraez continues to do what he’s done his entire career - hit for average, avoid strikeouts, and put the ball in play - the Giants will have found themselves a valuable piece without breaking the bank.