Post-trade .299 to .341 batting average 'explodes'

The trade that the San Diego Padres made on April 4, sending four players, including Go Woo-Suk, to the Miami Marlins for Luis Araujo, could be the one that changes San Diego's fortunes this season. Araujo is too good to be true

On April 24, Araujo started at first base against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, and went 5-for-4 with one RBI.

In his first at-bat of the game, Arajuez drew a two-pitch, two-strike count against Cincinnati starter Frankie Montas in the first inning, taking a 96.2-mph (154.8-kilometer) fastball that was just outside the zone and dropping it in front of center field. Then, on a 1-3 pitch in the second inning with San Diego leading 3-1, he took advantage of a 94.8 mph (152.6 km/h) fastball that Montas threw toward him for an RBI single to right.

Two batters later in the fourth inning, Araez hit Montas' 94.8-mph sinker for a double but was stranded at home on a wild pitch. But with the score tied 4-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Arajuez singled to center field to put runners on second and third with no outs, and San Diego scored two runs on a Fernando Tatis Jr. double and a Jake Cronenweth sacrifice fly to win 6-4 in extra innings.

After winning the batting title with the Minnesota Twins in 2022 and the Miami Marlins in 2023, making it two years of batting titles in two different leagues, Araez hasn't been quite as fast this season. In 33 games with Miami, he hit .299 토토사이트 with a .719 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage), which isn't bad, but certainly not good enough for a player with his name recognition.

But after coming to San Diego in a trade on April 4, his bat took off. In 17 games (16 starts) with San Diego, Araujo is 74-for-31 with a whopping .419 batting average. His batting average jumped from .299 in Miami to .341.

He also racked up all kinds of records. It was the second straight four-hit game for Araujo, who also went 4-for-6 the day before. He became just the fifth player in San Diego history to record four or more hits on back-to-back days, joining Tony Gwynn (1993), Reggie Sanders (199), Cameron Maybin (2011), and John Jay (1016). Araujo and Will Smith (Los Angeles Dodgers) are the only two players in the majors to have back-to-back four-hit games this season. Araujo also has 31 hits in his first 17 games with San Diego, the most in his first 17 games with the Padres.

With starting second baseman Xander Bogaerts out for an extended period of time with a shoulder injury, Arajuez's value has only grown. Originally intended to play first base or designated hitter, Araez is now playing second base, his primary position, with Bogaerts out. Araez has been shining.