The San Diego Padres have a tendency of not living up to the immense hype they generate for themselves in the offseason. A momentous National League Division series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022 stands out as one of the lone bright spots in what has been an overall dark, or at least foggy, couple decades of baseball for Friars fans.
A star-studded roster, which is less robust than it was a year ago, continues to fluctuate in the first two months of the 2024 season. But maybe, just maybe the organization's latest blockbuster addition is the rejuvenation the Padres need to morph into a more consistent ballclub.
And the reason for that potential turnaround could be because the All-Star in question is the antithesis of the flashiness the franchise has become accustomed to infusing Petco Park with as of late. In fact, he is a welcome blast from the past.
Luis Arraez just keeps ingratiating himself to San Diego, extending a fantastic streak with his new team in Thursday's 6-4 extra-innings win versus the Cincinnati Reds. After going 4-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored, the two-time MLB batting champion has recorded eight consecutive multi-hit games while amassing 21 total hits in that span, per Ryan M. Spaeder.
That stellar stretch surpasses that of even Mr. Padre himself, Tony Gwynn. The Hall of Fame outfielder capped out at 20 knocks during his career-high eight-game multi-hitting streak. Translation: Yowza!!
Can Luis Arraez help launch the Padres back to their glory days?
The comparisons between Arraez and the greatest player in Padres history (sorry Dave Winfield) continue to pile up following this latest feat. Both individuals are anomalies of their respective eras, embodying all the qualities that comprise a dazzling pure hitter. For a team that lost so many one-run games last year, getting back to the fundamentals could prove to be the perfect antidote.
When considering that Gwynn still represents the peak of this franchise's 55-year existence (helped the Pads reach the World Series in 1984 and 1998), it is easy to conclude that Luis Arraez is the throwback this team and fan base needs. The 27-year-old infielder has a staggering .419 batting average since being traded to the Padres from the Miami Marlins on May 4, putting him in position for a third possible batting crown.
Arraez's singular prowess– batting .341 with an .804 OPS in 50 total games– is also starting to translate to collective success. His bunt single in the 10th inning paved the way for a triumphant ending, which Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jake Cronenworth solidified soon after.
San Diego has plenty of room for improvement (27-26), but it currently holds an NL Wild Card slot and appears to be trending in the right direction. The arrival of Luis Arraez gives manager Mike Shildt a terrific table-setter at the top of his lineup. Stability may not be extremely alluring, but it is the bedrock of a competent and winning organization.
Though, the city sure looks to be enthralled by La Regadera (The sprinkler). The Venezuelan native will try to etch his name into the Padres' history books once again when the club returns home to host the 35-17 New York Yankees this weekend.
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