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Padres’ Luis Arraez drops eye-opening admission on Marlins trade amid Tony Gwynn comparisons

Originally posted on ClutchPoints | By Matthew Schmidt | Last updated 5/17/24

The San Diego Padres acquired sharp-hitting infielder Luis Arraez in a surprising trade with the Miami Marlins earlier this month, and now, the two-time batting champion is already drawing comparisons to Padres legend Tony Gwynn.

Arraez opened up on the jarring move that sent him from Miami to San Diego, saying it caught him off guard.

“I’m not going to lie to you. I wasn’t ready to be traded,” Arraez said, via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.

Arraez was getting set to play against the Oakland Athletics on May 3, but Marlins manager Skip Schumaker pulled him from the lineup and informed him that he was in the process of being traded to the Padres.

He made it to Arizona for the Padres’ next game against the Diamondbacks the following day and went 4-for-6 with a double and an RBI. Then, five days later, he delivered a walk-off single in his home debut in San Diego.

“They’ve welcomed me here with open arms,” Arraez said. “I feel as if I’ve been here since spring training.”

Luis Arraez is being compared to Tony Gwynn

San Diego Padres designated hitter Luis Arraez (4) celebrates after hitting a double against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning at Petco Park. Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Since joining the Padres, Arraez has gone 13-for-41 with a couple of doubles and four RBI. That’s good for an average of .317, and he also boasts a .364 OBP across 44 plate appearances with his new club.

It was Arraez’s four-hit debut, however, that brought to life memories of Gwynn. And you know who started the comparisons? Tony Gwynn Jr.

Gwynn Jr. played eight MLB seasons between 2006 and 2014, spending time with the Milwaukee Brewers, Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies. Now, he is a broadcaster for the Friars, and he loves what he is seeing from Arraez.

“I honestly had goosebumps watching him put together at-bats,” Gwynn Jr. said. “It took me back to watching film with my dad as he was basically doing the same thing.”

The elder Gwynn spent his entire 20-year MLB career in San Diego, slashing .338/.388/.459 and winning an incredible eight batting titles along the way. He topped out at .394 during the strike-shortened 1994 campaign. Now, the late Gwynn is in the Hall of Fame.

Arraez isn’t quite at that level, but he is certainly one of the better contact hitters in baseball.

On the 2024 campaign overall, the 27-year-old is slashing .303/.353/.371 with 10 doubles and nine RBI. Last season was Arraez’s magnum opus, as he batted a major-league best .354 while adding 10 home runs, 30 doubles and 69 RBI. He finished eighth in MVP voting, won a Silver Slugger and helped lead the Marlins to a surprising playoff appearance.

The Venezuelan native began his big-league career with the Minnesota Twins back in 2019. He won a batting title during his final season with the Twins in 2022 when he hit .316. He was then traded to Miami that ensuing offseason.

Arraez made back-to-back All-Star appearances in 2022 and 2023 and boasts a lifetime slash line of .324/.377/.422.

The Padres may need more than just Arraez to boost their playoff chances, however. San Diego entered Friday’s action with a record of 22-24 and sat seven games behind the Dodgers for first place in the NL West.

Arraez and the Padres will open up a four-game series with the Atlanta Braves on Friday night.

This article first appeared on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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