Luis Arraez: A Glimpse of His Surgical Journey and the Ups and Downs of His Career

San Diego Padres’ Luis Arraez, a three-time consecutive batting title holder, publicly shared on October 16, 2024, that he underwent a successful surgical procedure to mend a damaged ligament in his left thumb.

Persistent Play Despite Injury

Arraez, who championed the National League batting title, reported that he grappled with the injury throughout the latter part of the season. The injury occurred on June 25 during a game against the Washington Nationals, as he slid headfirst into third base resulting in a triple. He wrote, “Despite the discomfort, I persisted in the game. However, it became increasingly apparent that surgical intervention was essential for comprehensive recovery.”

Post-Surgery Recovery

The surgery was successful, and Arraez expressed his immediate focus on recuperation and making a swift comeback. According to an MLB.com representative, it is anticipated that Arraez will be ready to resume hitting within an eight-week span and be at peak health in time for the opening of spring training.

Arraez’s Noteworthy Achievements

Arraez logged a .314 batting average this season, marking his third consecutive batting title win. He is the first player in history to hold this record with three separate teams – winning the American League title in 2022 with the Minnesota Twins and the National League title with the Miami Marlins in 2023.

His Spectacular Career

At 27, Arraez has had a spectacular career with 200 hits in the current season, marking the second year in a row he has achieved this milestone. His stats also include four home runs, 24 doubles, and 41 RBIs in 150 games between the Padres (117 games) and Marlins (33 games).

San Diego brought Arraez onboard from the Marlins in return for four minor leaguers in the early part of May. In 2022, he scored a .316 batting average for the Twins and a .354 average for Miami in 2023. All in all, Arraez boasts a .323 average with 28 home runs and 247 RBIs in 686 matches over six seasons with the Twins, Marlins, and Padres.